Evidence for Grain Boundary Transport from Impedance Spectroscopy of Gabbro at 1-2 GPa up to 890°C

Impedance spectra of gabbro were measured at 1-2 GPa and up to 890°C with applied frequency of 12 to 10⁵Hz. At temperatures below 680°C, only one impedance arc corresponding to the grain interior conduction process occurs. Owing to the grain boundary transport with increasing temperature, the impurities occur at the grain boundaries, resulting in the second arc corresponding to the grain boundary conduction process over the frequency range of 12 to 10³Hz above 680°C, and the resistivities of the grain interior and the grain boundary conduction mechanisms add in series. The total conductivity of this rock is dominated by the grain interior conductivity and the impurities have no significant effect on the total electrical conductivities.