MODEL STUDIES ON SOME ASPECTS OF RESISTIVITY AND MEMBRANE POLARIZATION BEHAVIOUR OVER A LAYERED EARTH*

Electrolytic model tank experiments to study resistivity and time domain induced polarization (IP) response over layered earth models were initiated primarily to facilitate the understanding of field results. Alternate layers of clay and sand (or clay-coated sand) with, in some cases, a surficial layer of water were assembled in the tank and resistivity and IP measurements made for a range of electrode spacings using the Wenner configuration. Graphite and silver-silver chloride electrodes were used as current and potential electrodes respectively. Clay-coated (3% by weight) sand was found to generate stronger polarization than either clay or sand alone. Apparent chargeability m_a was observed to be positive for a nonpolarizable surface layer. For a polarizable surface layer, the sign of IP was controlled by the polarizability, the thickness of the second layer, and the spacing of the electrode spreads. The apparent chargeability m_a can theoretically change sign from positive to negative and vice versa with a gradual increase in electrode spacing, and such negative IP effects were obtained in a few observations. A simultaneous decrease in IP and an increase in resistivity, which is a qualitative diagnostic feature for the occurrence of clean freshwater sand aquifers, could also be generated in the model tank experiment. Combined resistivity and IP soundings were carried out near Fredericton Junction and Tracy, New Brunswick, Canada. Field curves are presented along with the model curves for qualitative comparison and understanding of IP behaviour over a layered earth. Twenty-five out of twenty-seven soundings show only positive apparent chargeabilities, whereas two show chargeability sign changes (positive/negative/positive). The model study gives reason to believe that surface soils and Quaternary gravel boulder deposits near Fredericton Junction are relatively non-polarizable. As an auxiliary experiment, sand and clay were taken in different proportions by weight and mixed thoroughly with water in a cement mixer. The mixtures were then compressed with a suitable die and plunger under 3.6 Pa pressure to prepare cylindrical samples of height 18 cm and diameter 15.5 cm. IP measurements were done on the flat faces using the Wenner configuration with a= 2 cm. Chargeability was found to be negative for 100 and 90% clay mixtures. It reached a positive maximum for an 80% clay-20% sand mixture and then decreased gradually with increasing sand and decreasing clay content.     

Regional study of the anomalous change in apparent resistivity before the Tangshan earthquake (M=7.8, 1976) in China

Electrical resistivity measurements have been conducted as a possible means for obtaining precursory earthquake information. Before five great earthquakes (M>7,h<25 km) in China, the apparent resistivity _a showed systematic variations within a region 200 km from the epicenters. In particular, 9 stations in the Tangshan-Tianjin-Beijing region prior to the Tangshan earthquake (M=7.8,h=11 km, 27 July 1976) showed a consistent decrease of apparent resistivity around the epicenter, with a maximum resistivity change of 6% and a period of variation of 2–3 years. Simultaneous water table observations in this region showed a declining water table, and ground surface observations indicated a slight (5 mm) uplift in the epicenter region relative to its surroundings.In order to develop an explanation for the observed change of apparent resistivity associated with these great earthquakes, we have used Archie's Law to explore the effects of changes in rock porosity, water content and electrolyte resistivity on measured resistivity.Tentative conclusions of this study are as follows: (1) the apparent resistivity change is opposite to the effect expected from the simultaneous water table trend; (2) the dilatancy needed to give such resistivity variations (assuming Archie's Law holds) is much larger than that needed to explain the observed uplift (by 2–3 orders of magnitude); (3) salinity change in the pore electrolyte is a possible explanation for the variation in resistivity: an increase in the salinity would cause a proportional decrease in resistivity; the data needed to test this hypothesis, however, are lacking; and (4) the effect of changing geometry of rock pores or cracks due to pressure solution may provide an explanation for the decrease in apparent resistivity; it is different in nature from the effect of a volume change in response to stress although the geometry change is also closely related to the stress change.     

Near Surface Electrical Characterization of Hydraulic Conductivity: From Petrophysical Properties to Aquifer Geometries—A Review

This paper reviews the recent geophysical literature addressing the estimation of saturated hydraulic conductivity (K) from static low frequency electrical measurements (electrical resistivity, induced polarization (IP) and spectral induced polarization (SIP)). In the first part of this paper, research describing how petrophysical relations between electrical properties and effective (i.e. controlling fluid transport) properties of (a) the interconnected pore volumes and interconnected pore surfaces, have been exploited to estimate K at both the core and field scale is reviewed. We start with electrical resistivity measurements, which are shown to be inherently limited in K estimation as, although resistivity is sensitive to both pore volume and pore surface area properties, the two contributions cannot be separated. Efforts to utilize the unique sensitivity of IP and SIP measurements to physical parameters that describe the interconnected pore surface area are subsequently introduced and the incorporation of such data into electrical based Kozeny–Carman type models of K estimation is reviewed. In the second part of this review, efforts to invert geophysical datasets for spatial patterns of K variability (e.g. aquifer geometries) at the field-scale are considered. Inversions, based on the conversion of an image of a geophysical property to a hydrological property assuming a valid petrophysical relationship, as well as joint/constrained inversion methods, whereby multiple geophysical and hydrological data are inverted simultaneously, are briefly covered. This review demonstrates that there currently exists an opportunity to link, (1) the petrophysics relating low frequency electrical measurements to effective hydraulic properties, with (2) the joint inversion strategies developed in recent years, in order to obtain more meaningful estimates of spatial patterns of K variability than previously reported.     

Mechanisms of compaction of quartz sand at diagenetic conditions

The relative contribution of cracking, grain rearrangement, and pressure solution during experimental compaction of quartz sand at diagenetic conditions was determined through electron and optical microscopy and image analysis. Aggregates of St. Peter sand (255±60 μm diameter grain size and porosity of approximately 34%) were subjected to creep compaction at effective pressures of 15, 34.5, 70, and 105 MPa, temperatures of 22 and 150°C, nominally dry or water-saturated (pore fluid pressure of 12.5 MPa) conditions, and for times up to one year. All aggregates displayed transient, decelerating creep, and volume strain rates as low as 2×10⁻¹⁰ s⁻¹ were achieved. The intensity of fracturing and degree of fragmentation increase with volume strain and have the same dependence on volume strain at all conditions tested, indicating that impingement fracturing and grain rearrangement were the main mechanisms of compaction throughout the creep phase. The increase in fracture density and decrease in acoustic emission rate at long times under wet conditions reflect an increase in the contribution of subcritical cracking. No quantitative evidence of significant pressure solution was found, even for long-term creep at 150°C and water-saturated conditions. Comparison of our findings to previous work suggests that pressure solution could become significant at temperatures or times somewhat greater than investigated here.     

Use of VFSA for resolution, sensitivity and uncertainty analysis in 1D DC resistivity and IP inversion

We present results from the resolution and sensitivity analysis of 1D DC resistivity and IP sounding data using a non-linear inversion. The inversion scheme uses a theoretically correct Metropolis–Gibbs' sampling technique and an approximate method using numerous models sampled by a global optimization algorithm called very fast simulated annealing (VFSA). VFSA has recently been found to be computationally efficient in several geophysical parameter estimation problems. Unlike conventional simulated annealing (SA), in VFSA the perturbations are generated from the model parameters according to a Cauchy-like distribution whose shape changes with each iteration. This results in an algorithm that converges much faster than a standard SA. In the course of finding the optimal solution, VFSA samples several models from the search space. All these models can be used to obtain estimates of uncertainty in the derived solution. This method makes no assumptions about the shape of an a posteriori probability density function in the model space. Here, we carry out a VFSA-based sensitivity analysis with several synthetic and field sounding data sets for resistivity and IP. The resolution capability of the VFSA algorithm as seen from the sensitivity analysis is satisfactory. The interpretation of VES and IP sounding data by VFSA, incorporating resolution, sensitivity and uncertainty of layer parameters, would generally be more useful than the conventional best-fit techniques.     

Coupled deformation-diffusion effects on water-level changes due to propagating creep events

Water-well-level fluctuations associated with episodic creep are studied using a coupled deformation-diffusion solution for the pore pressure produced by a plane-strain shear dislocation moving steadily at a speedV in a linear elastic, saturated porous medium. For largeVr/2c, wherer is distance from the dislocation andc is diffusivity, the solution approaches the form of the uncoupled elastic solution used by Wesson (1981) to analyze water-level changes due to creep events. The differences between the two solutions are significant within 10 diffusion lengths (20c/V) from the fault plane. More specifically, the pore pressure predicted by the coupled solution reverses sign behind the dislocation and is much smaller in magnitude than that predicted by the uncoupled solution. For an undrained Poisson ratio of 0.3, Skempton's coefficient of 0.8 and a shear modulus of 30 GPa, the coupled solution predicts a peak pore-pressure change of 13.7 kPa (137 mbar) per millimeter of slip forV=1 km/day andc=1.0 m²/sec. The spectrum of the coupled solution is limited to a band of frequencies, centered at a value proportional toV and approximately inversely proportional to the distance from the observation point to the fault plant. Thus, close to the fault plane the frequency band occupied by the coupled solution may lie above the range at which water wells can respond. The coupled solution is used in interpreting the same creep-associated water-level change observed by Johnson (1973) and modeled by Wesson (1981) using the uncoupled solution. Although there are uncertainties in properties of the rock material and in the speed of the creep event, the coupled solution predicts a water-level change comparable in magnitude to the observed change.     

Effect of pore geometry on Gassmann fluid substitution

Although there is no assumption of pore geometry in derivation of Gassmann's equation, the pore geometry is in close relation with hygroscopic water content and pore fluid communication between the micropores and the macropores. The hygroscopic water content in common reservoir rocks is small, and its effect on elastic properties is ignored in the Gassmann theory. However, the volume of hygroscopic water can be significant in shaly rocks or rocks made of fine particles; therefore, its effect on the elastic properties may be important. If the pore fluids in microspores cannot reach pressure equilibrium with the macropore system, assumption of the Gassmann theory is violated. Therefore, due to pore structure complexity, there may be a significant part of the pore fluids that do not satisfy the assumption of the Gassmann theory. We recommend that this part of pore fluids be accounted for within the solid rock frame and effective porosity be used in Gassmann's equation for fluid substitution. Integrated study of ultrasonic laboratory measurement data, petrographic data, mercury injection capillary pressure data, and nuclear magnetic resonance T₂ data confirms rationality of using effective porosity for Gassmann fluid substitution. The effective porosity for Gassmann's equation should be frequency dependent. Knowing the pore geometry, if an empirical correlation between frequency and the threshold pore‐throat radius or nuclear magnetic resonance T₂ could be set up, Gassmann's equation can be applicable to data measured at different frequencies. Without information of the pore geometry, the irreducible water saturation can be used to estimate the effective porosity.     

Acoustic and petrophysical relationships in low-shale sandstone reservoir rocks

This paper describes the measurements of the acoustic and petrophysical properties of two suites of low‐shale sandstone samples from North Sea hydrocarbon reservoirs, under simulated reservoir conditions. The acoustic velocities and quality factors of the samples, saturated with different pore fluids (brine, dead oil and kerosene), were measured at a frequency of about 0.8 MHz and over a range of pressures from 5 MPa to 40 MPa. The compressional‐wave velocity is strongly correlated with the shear‐wave velocity in this suite of rocks. The ratio V_P/V_S varies significantly with change of both pore‐fluid type and differential pressure, confirming the usefulness of this parameter for seismic monitoring of producing reservoirs. The results of quality factor measurements were compared with predictions from Biot‐flow and squirt‐flow loss mechanisms. The results suggested that the dominating loss in these samples is due to squirt‐flow of fluid between the pores of various geometries. The contribution of the Biot‐flow loss mechanism to the total loss is negligible. The compressional‐wave quality factor was shown to be inversely correlated with rock permeability, suggesting the possibility of using attenuation as a permeability indicator tool in low‐shale, high‐porosity sandstone reservoirs.     

Pore structure of selected Chinese coals with heating and pressurization treatments

Pore structure of Chinese coals with heating and pressurization treatments was studied using small angle X-ray scattering(SAXS),N2adsorption/desorption isotherms and scanning electron microscope(SEM).SAXS was performed for some samples after heat treatment at seven elevated temperatures from 25 to 250°C at 0 MPa and for other samples with hydrostatic pressure treatment at 0,5,10,15 and 20 MPa at the room temperature.The results show that N2adsorption isotherm together with SAXS could be a comprehensive method to evaluate the pore shape and the pore size distribution:the pore shapes are generally spherical for low rank coal and they are mainly ellipsoidal for high rank coal.All these measurements were then interpreted using the fractal theory to reveal relationship between surface fractals and coal rank,and the evolution of surface fractals under heating and pressurization treatments.The results show that surface fractal dimension(Ds)changes with different treating temperature and pressure and maximum vitrinite reflectance(Ro,m).Especially in the bituminous stage,Ds shows an increasing trend with Ro,m under varied temperatures.Moreover,Ds shows an increasing trend with increasing temperature before 200°C,and a decreasing trend after 200°C.Furthermore,the results show that Ds has a more complex relationship with Ro,m under varied treating temperature than that under varied treating pressure.     

Shear-enhanced compaction during non-linear viscous creep of porous calcite-quartz aggregates

In this paper, we extend the previous studies of semi-brittle flow of synthetic calcite-quartz aggregates to a range of temperatures and effective pressures where viscous creep occurs. Triaxial deformation experiments were performed on hot-pressed calcite-quartz aggregates containing 10, 20 and 30 wt% quartz at confining pressure of 300 MPa, pore pressures of 50-290 MPa, temperatures of 673-1073 K and strain rates of 3.0×10⁻⁵/s, 8.3×10⁻⁵/s and 3.0×10⁻⁴/s. Starting porosity varied from 5 to 9%. We made axial and volumetric strain measurements during the mechanical tests. Pore volume change was measured by monitoring the volume of pore fluid that flows out of or into the specimen at constant pore pressure. Yield stress increased with decreasing porosity and showed a dependence on effective pressure. Thus, the yield stress versus effective pressure can be described as a yield surface with negative slope that expands with decreasing porosity and increasing strain hardening, gradually approaching the envelope of strength at 10% strain, which has a positive slope. Creep of porous rock can be modeled to first order as an isolated equivalent void in an incompressible nonlinear viscous matrix. An incremental method is used to calculate the stress-strain curve of the porous material under a constant external strain rate. The numerical simulations reproduce general trends of the deformation behavior of the porous rock, such as the yield stress decreasing with increasing effective pressure and significant strain hardening at high effective pressure. The drop of yield stress with increasing porosity is modeled well, and so is the volumetric strain rate, which increases with increasing porosity.     

AN INTERPRETATION THEORY FOR INDUCED POLARIZATION VERTICAL SOUNDINGS (TIME-DOMAIN)*

In this paper it is shown how one may obtain a generalized Ohm's law which relates the induced polarization electric field to the steady-state current density through the introduction of a fictitious resistivity defined as the product of the chargeability and the resistivity of a given medium. The potential generated by the induced polarization is calculated at any point in a layered earth by the same procedure as used for calculating the potential due to a point source of direct current. On the basis of the definition of the apparent chargeability m_a, the expressions of m_a for different stratigraphie situations are obtained, provided the IP measurements are carried out on surface with an appropriate AMNB array. These expressions may be used to plot master curves for IP vertical soundings. Finally some field experiments over sedimentary formations and the quantitative interpretation procedure are reported.     

Comparison of the effective pressure law for permeability and resistivity formation factor in Chelmsford granite

Permeability, resistivity formation factor, and pore volume change were simultaneously measured on samples of Chelmsford granite subjected to confining pressure and pore pressure cycles. Using a technique described in a previous paper, the tangent coefficients of the effective pressure law for permeability _k and for formation factor _F were determined. _k and _F did not differ significantly from one another. They showed a strong stress history dependence as has already been observed for _k in several crystalline rocks. According to the definition of the effective pressure law used here, two physical properties with identical 's must be related through a one-to-one functional relationship. Hence, the observation above suggests that such a relationship may be empirically found between permeability and formation factor. Indeed, analysis of the data revealed that, to a good approximation, permeability was inversely proportional to the formation factor. The same relation has previously been observed in other crystalline rocks. This relationship was included in a recent version of the so-called equivalent channel model. Using this model, the specific surface area of the cracksA _c/V_S, the standard deviation of the distribution of asperities heightsh and the hydraulic radiusm _o were evaluated. The following values were respectively found: 850 cm^–1, 0.008 m and 0.14 m. The specific surface area of the cracks was independently estimated on micrographs of polished sections using a standard quantitative stereology method. The result was in good agreement with the values estimated from the transport properties data.     

High-pressure phase transformations in vitreous and crystalline GeO2 (rutile)

Phase transformations in vitreous and crystalline GeO₂ (rutile) have been investigated up to ～50 GPa and ～1000°C by using a diamond anvil pressure cell coupled with a YAG laser heating system and in situ x-ray diffraction techniques. The results show that whereas the vitreous GeO₂ transforms into a hexagonal phase at pressures ～25 GPa, the crystalline GeO₂ transforms into an orthorhombic phase at ～28 GPa; the molar volume changes for the hexagonal and orthorhombic transformations are ? 1.0% (at 25 GPa) and ? 3.0% (at 28 GPa), respectively. When unloaded to 0.1 MPa, both the hexagonal and orthorhombic phases of GeO₂ are retained, and the zero-pressure molar volume is 0.7% larger and 4.5% smaller than that of the rutile-structured GeO₂, respectively. These results are in good agreement with previously published data.     

Impact of Poroelastic Response of Sandstones on Geothermal Power Production

During geothermal power production using a borehole doublet consisting of a production and injection well, the reservoir conditions such as permeability k, porosity φ and Skempton coefficient B at the geothermal research site Gross Schoenebeck/Germany will change. Besides a temperature decrease at the injection well and a change of the chemical equilibrium, also the pore pressure p _p will vary in a range of approximately 44 MPa ± 10 MPa in our reservoir at ?3850 to ?4258 m depth. This leads to a poroelastic response of the reservoir rocks depending on effective pressure p _eff (difference between mean stress and pore pressure), resulting in a change in permeability k, porosity φ and the poroelastic parameter Skempton coefficient B. Hence, we investigated the effective pressure dependency of Flechtinger sandstone, an outcropping equivalent of the reservoir rock via laboratory experiments. The permeability decreased by 21% at an effective pressure range from 3 to 30 MPa, the porosity decreased by 11% (p _eff = 6 to 65 MPa) and the Skempton coefficient decreased by 24% (p _eff = 4 to 25 MPa). We will show which mechanisms lead to the change of the mentioned hydraulic and poroelastic parameters and the influence of these changes on the productivity of the reservoir. The most significant changes occur at low effective pressures until 15 to 20 MPa. For our in situ reservoir conditions p _eff = 43 MPa a change of 10 MPa effective pressure will result in a change in matrix permeability of less than 4% and in matrix porosity of less than 2%. Besides natural fracture systems, fault zones and induced hydraulic fractures, the rock matrix its only one part of geothermal systems. All components can be influenced by pressure, temperature and chemical reactions. Therefore, the determined small poroelastic response of rock matrix does not significantly influence the sustainability of the geothermal reservoir.     

An Integrated Study on Physical Properties of a KTB Gneiss Sample and Marble from Portugal: Pressure Dependence of the Permeability and Frequency Dependence of the Complex Electrical Impedance

— Pressure-induced variations in pore geometry were studied on dry- and fluid- saturated samples by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy and permeability measurements. Hydrostatic pressures (up to 120 MPa) and uniaxial pressures (up to failure) were applied. Hydrostatic pressures reduce the aspect ratio of cracks and thus cause a decrease of permeability and electrical bulk conductivity. The opposite was observed in uniaxial pressure experiments where new cracks were formed and consequently permeability and electrical conductivity were increased. More specific informations of these generated observations were derived from the interpretation of the frequency dispersion of the complex electrical conductivity. This least-squares-refinement considers electrochemical interactions between the fluid pore electrolyte and the inner surface of the sample, thus providing informations on the pore geometry and pressure-induced variations. Consequently changes in aspect ratio, size and geometry of the pore system can be detected by means of impedance spectroscopy.     

Pore pressure in deep bore-holes: Its measurement and relation with seismic activities

The method of measuring the pore pressure of stratum fluid in deep bore-holes is presented. Taking the sedimentary basins in North China as an example, the variation law of pore pressure measured in strata within the depth range of 0 to 4 km is analyzed. Furthermore, the relation between the regional distribution of abnormal pore pressures in 3 000 m depth and seismic activities is discussed in connection with the earthquakes of M _S5.0 that occurred after 1 900 in the studied region. The study result indicates that the strata pore pressure P ₀ measured in deep bore-holes is not exactly the same as the hydrostatic pressure PH. Ultra pore pressure does exist, though not commonly. The relation that the pore pressures (P ₀₁, P ₀₂ and P ₀₃) measured in exploration, evaluation and exploitation wells in Oil-fields and the hydrostatic pressuree (P _H) of the above wells is as follows: 1 P ₀₁>P ₀₂>P _H>P ₀₃ in areas with ultra pore pressures; 2 P _H>P ₀₁>P ₀₂>P ₀₃ in areas where the pore pressures are normal or on the lower side. The relation between the regional distribution of ultra pore pressures and the activity of earthquakes of M _S5.0 has been analyzed. The result shows that, with latitudes 36.0°–36.5°N as a demarcation, pore pressures are ultra-high in the south and are normal or lower in the north. In the south, the measured pore pressure is obviously higher than the hydrostatic pressure below the depth of about 2 000 m and it increases as a power function with increasing depth; meanwhile, the earthquake activity there is weaker. In the north, however, the measured pore pressure increases as a linear function with increasing depth; meanwhile, the earthquake activity there is stronger. This project sponsored by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.     

An insightful parametrization for the flatlander's interpretation of time‐lapsed seismic data

An approximation is developed that allows mapped 4D seismic amplitudes and time‐shifts to be related directly to the weighted linear sum of pore pressure and saturation changes. The weights in this relation are identified as key groups of parameters from a petroelastic model and include the reservoir porosity. This dependence on groups of parameters explains the inherent non‐uniqueness of this problem experienced by previous researchers. The proposed relation is of use in 4D seismic data feasibility studies and inversion and interpretation of the 4D seismic response in terms of pore pressure and water saturation changes. A further result is drawn from analysis of data from the North Sea and West Africa, which reveals that the relative interplay between the effects of pore pressure and saturation changes on the seismic data can be simplified to the control of a single, spatially variant parameter C_S/C_P. Combining these results with those from published literature, we find that C_S/C_P = 8 appears to be a generality across a range of clastic reservoirs with a similar mean porosity. Using this C_S/C_P value, an in situ seismic‐scale constraint for the rock stress sensitivity component of the petroelastic model is constructed considering this component carries the largest uncertainty.     

Monitoring of relative changes in the electrical conductivity of rocks from observations of the magnetotelluric apparent resistivity (numerical modeling)

A method for direct conversion of observed variations in the magnetotelluric (MT) apparent resistivity ρ_a into relative variations in the resistivity of elements of a well-studied geoelectric structure is proposed. The method is tested on a 1-D model structure consisting of seven horizontal layers in three of which the conductivity can vary within certain limits. It is inferred that the frequency range and the accuracy of methods of magnetotelluric sounding presently applied to the construction of transfer operators are sufficient for determining relative changes in the resistivity of rocks; the latter, as distinct from ρ_a, can serve as an effective prognostic parameter. The method can be extended to more complex geoelectric structures.     

THE QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF FREQUENCY-DOMAIN INDUCED POLARIZATION SOUNDINGS OVER HORIZONTAL BEDS*

Following up our recent study of an indirect procedure for the practical determination of the maximum frequency-effect, defined as fe = 1 ? pρ_∞/ρdc with ρ_∞ the resistivity at infinite frequency, we show at first how, through the Laplace transform theory, ρ_∞ can be related to stationary field vectors in the simple form of Ohm's law. Then applying the equation of continuity for stationary currents with a suitable set of boundary conditions, we derive the integral expression of the apparent resistivity at infinite frequency ρ_∞,a in the case of a horizontally layered earth. Finally, from the definition of the maximum apparent frequency-effect, analytical expressions of fe_α are obtained for both Schlumberger and dipole arrays placed on the surface of the multi-layered earth section in the most general situation of vertical changes in induced polarization together with dc resistivity variations not at the same interfaces. Direct interpretation procedures are suggested for obtaining the layering parameters directly from the analysis of the sounding curves.     

Study on the property of apparent resistivity changes of rock samples by in situ shear and friction test

In the strip limestone mine in Guiding county, Guizhou Province the shear and frictionin situ tests of rock body were made for the three typical inclined weak bands C ₃ ¹ /C ₃ ¹ , C ₃ ¹ /C ₂ ² and C ₂ ² /C ₂ ¹ . The tests were made according to the second scheme of cuneate sample of the standards on rock mechanics test of Water Conservancy and Electricity Ministry. The changes of the resistivity in the weak band and the acoustic speed across the weak band were measured in the same time. The apparent resistivity data, obtained for 8 samples on 27 measure lines in 38 cycle tests, show that the apparent resistivity changes have rather obvious characters as follows: 1. At shear and friction stage, the change of the apparent resistivity accelerates after the yield point, and reaches the maximum of change rate and change amplitude near fracture point (except the lines with resistivity invariant); 2. On the same sample, the resistivity changes are different on the various lines and related to the location settled the lines, there are some “sensitive” location; 3. At the stage of preloading normal stress before shearing, the resistivity decreases on most lines, but on a few lines the resistivity does not changes; 4. After unloading shear stress, the resistivity could not recover completely and the hysteresis of resistiviity takes place on a few lines. The Chinese version of this paper appeared in the Chinese edition ofActa Seismologica Sinica,15, 217–223, 1993. Support for this research was received from Guiding strip limestone mine, Guizhou Organic Chemistry Factory. This research is supported by the Chinese Joint Seismological Science Foundation.