Electrical conductivity measurement of fayalite under shock compression up to 56 GPa

The electrical conductivity measurements of single‐crystal fayalite are performed under shock wave compression in the pressure range 19.5–56 GPa. The electrical conductivity under shock compression increases by a factor of more than 1010 from 0 to 40 GPa. Over the range 19.5–42 GPa the specific conductivity σ can be closely described by log10σ (S/m) = −4.65 + 0.15P (GPa). The conductivity versus pressure relation at room temperature is calculated by using measured values of the activation energy to correct the high‐temperature shock data to room temperature. After the effect of temperature is removed, the increase in conductivity with pressure approximately agrees with that measured under static pressure using a diamond anvil cell by Mao and Bell. Above pressures of ∼42 GPa the conductivity remains at a relatively high level of ∼100 S/m from 40 to 55 GPa.