Impedance spectroscopy analysis on electrical properties of serpentine at high pressure and high temperature

The electrical conductivity of serpentine is measured and the microscopic conductance mechanisms are investigated with impedance spectroscopy at 2.5–4.0 GPa and 220–780°C. The results show that the electrical conductivity is strongly dependent on the frequencies used, and that only arc I, which reflects grain interior conductance, occurs and dominates the whole conductance processes over 12-105Hz at high pressure before dehydration. The arc II, which indicates the grain boundary process, begins to occur at the initial stage of dehydration. After dehydration, due to the presence of highly conductive networks of free water, the electrical conductivity is not dependent on frequencies any longer and the total electrical conductivity is dominated by process of ionic conductance of free water in interconnected networks. Dehydration of serpentine enhances pronouncedly the total electrical conductivity, through which highly conductive layers (HCL) may be formed in the earth’s interior.