Measurements of saturated basic and acidic rock electrical conductivities at lower crustal temperatures and high pressures

Abstract

Laboratory measurements of the electrical conductivity of brine saturated acidic and metabasic rocks were done at confining pressures up to 0.2 GPa, high pore pressures and temperatures of 900°C. Acidic rocks showed conductivities insufficient to explain the lower crustal high conductivity layer. Basic rocks, however, showed conductivities consistent with the high conductivity layer at those temperatures that the layer is thought to possess.