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Electrical resistivity of granite in frictional sliding: Application to earthquake prediction
Author(s) -
Wang C. Y.,
Goodman R. E.,
Sundaram P. N.,
Morrison H. F.
Publication year - 1975
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/gl002i012p00525
Subject(s) - electrical resistivity and conductivity , geology , shear (geology) , earthquake prediction , slip (aerodynamics) , geotechnical engineering , shear stress , seismology , materials science , petrology , composite material , electrical engineering , physics , thermodynamics , engineering
The electrical resistivity of a saturated granite during frictional sliding showed clear variations premonitory to the occurrence of stick‐slip: Resistivity decreased by a few percent with increasing shear stress; the minimum coincided with a sudden release of shear stress of a few bars, accompanied by an immediate return of resistivity. This sequence of changes of resistivity bears some similarity to those observed in the field prior to the occurrence of some earthquakes and suggests that the causative mechanisms for both the field and the laboratory phenomena might be closely related. Further field application of the electrical method for earthquake prediction seems desirable.