EarthRef.org Reference Database (ERR)
Development and Maintenance by the EarthRef.org Database Team

Detailed Reference Information
Vandersande & Pohl 1982
Vandersande, J.W. and Pohl, R.O. (1982). Negligible effect of grain boundaries on the thermal conductivity of rocks. Geophysical Research Letters 9. doi: 10.1029/GL009i008p00820. issn: 0094-8276.

The thermal conductivity of marble, gabbro, quartz-monzonite, basalt and of labradorite was measured between 0.3 and 80 K. In all cases, the phonon mean free paths l¿ were found to increase with decreasing temperature, but even at the lowest temperatures, l¿ was far smaller than the average grain sizes. This demonstrates that phonon scattering by grain boundaries has very little influence on the heat transport in these rocks. Evidence is presented that lamellae due to twinning or exsolution, rod-like large inclusions, and density fluctuations inside the grains mask the effect of grain boundaries.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20009-1277
USA
1-202-462-6900
1-202-328-0566
service@agu.org
Click to clear formClick to return to previous pageClick to submit