Physical properties of minerals and melts

This review summarizes measurements and theoretical developments for those physical properties of primary interest in geophysical calculations. It includes thermal properties, electrical conductivity, diffusion in minerals and melts, with only slight mention of the corresponding properties of rocks. Elastic properties and acoustic velocities are discussed; however, related work on equations of state and on plastic deformation are covered by Bell and Tullis in other reviews in this series. Knowledge of physical properties provides the basis for interpreting geophysical measurements of seismic velocities, electrical conductivity, and temperature gradients in terms of unknown quantities, such as mineralogical and chemical composition, temperature, heat flow, and fluid contents at depth in the earth and moon. The growth of this field as a specialty is signalled by several indications, for instance: books; Physics and Chemistry of Minerals and Rocks (Strens, 1976), High Pressure Research, Applications in Geophysics (Manghnani and Akimoto, 1977), each of which reports conference results; a new journal; Physics and Chemistry of Minerals; and topical meetings; the Mineral Physics Conference, Airlie, Virginia, October 1977.