THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY OF ROCK-FORMING MINERALS

New values of the thermal conductivity, K of 119 rock-forming minerals reveal the following empirical relationships: (1) K is a linear function of density for constant mean atomic weight (similar to Birch's law for the velocity of compressional waves); (2) the K of silicates is controlled by the structure of the silicon-oxygen network; (3) within a group of minerals of similar crystal structure and bonding, K decreases as the mean atomic weight increases; (4) for a series of minerals which form a binary solid solution, K has a minimum at an intermediate composition; and (5) the K of silicates is related linearly to elastic wave velocities. © 1969.