Laboratory investigation of the electrodynamics of rock fracture

Abstract

Light produced by the failure of rocks subjected to uniaxial compression in various atmospheres has been analysed spectroscopically in the visible and near-infrared. In each case, the observed spectrum was unique to the ambient atmosphere. Spectrographical and electromagnetic investigations support an exoelectron bombardment mechanism to explain the observed light emission. Several implications of this result are discussed. © 1986 Nature Publishing Group.