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The effect of water on the electrical conductivity of olivine

Author

Listed:
  • Duojun Wang

    (Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    China Earthquake Administration
    Yale University)

  • Mainak Mookherjee

    (Yale University)

  • Yousheng Xu

    (Yale University
    University of Connecticut)

  • Shun-ichiro Karato

    (Yale University)

Abstract

Rising damp? The properties of the Earth's mantle (such as viscosity and melting temperature) are strongly influenced by the amount of water there. However, determining the mantle's water content has remained challenging. It has been suggested that hydration of olivine minerals is the cause of the high electrical conductivity of the asthenosphere (the deformable layer beneath the crust and upper mantle), but the effect of water on such minerals (via incorporation of hydrogen) has yet to be determined in the laboratory. Two groups now report experiments on the effect of hydrogen on olivine conductivity. Both find that small amounts of hydrogen increase electrical conductivity dramatically, but their conclusions regarding whether this hydration explains the observed mantle conductivity are at odds. Clearly, more work is needed to determine the factors behind this discrepancy.

Suggested Citation

  • Duojun Wang & Mainak Mookherjee & Yousheng Xu & Shun-ichiro Karato, 2006. "The effect of water on the electrical conductivity of olivine," Nature, Nature, vol. 443(7114), pages 977-980, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:443:y:2006:i:7114:d:10.1038_nature05256
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05256
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