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Electrical-conductivity anomalies in subduction zones are believed to be strongly connected with global water cycling, volcanism and seismicity. However, the causal atomic-scale processes related to conductivity of rock-forming minerals in subducting rocks are virtually unknown. Here, in situ simultaneous high-temperature Raman spectroscopy and resistivity measurements on riebeckite as a model Fe-rich amphibole in subduction zones show that (1) electronic small polarons, with high mobility along the c -axis of the amphibole structure, activate above 500 K; (2) H + starts diffusing within the crystal above 650 K, although electron transport via polaron hopping is still the dominant mechanism of charge transfer; (3) the anisotropy in the conductivity is enhanced with increasing temperature, emphasizing the dominant role of e − over H + in causing the high conductivity (above 0.01 S/m) of Fe-rich amphiboles. We show that conductivity data obtained via magnetotelluric measurements are best modelled by considering the effect of stress-driven alignment of amphiboles during plate motion. Our results thus link atomic- and Earth-scale conductivity processes, significantly improving our understanding of subduction processes.

Studies of the rocks' electrical properties under high temperature and pressure have found favors in the geophysicist's eyes, because those studies are becoming to be the important methods to understand the earth's interior materials, their migration and evolution. This article introduces the development and significant of those studies from the measurements, instruments and affections, etc. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]