The electrical conductivity of calcite between 300 and 1200° C at a CO2 pressure of 40 bars

The electrical conductivity of calcite cleavage fragments was measured using direct current. Five temperature intervals, characterized by different activation energies of conduction, were established — T ₁: (300°)–500° C, T ₂: 500–725° C, T ₃: 725°–800° C, T ₄: 800°–985° C and T ₅: 985°–(1,200)° C. The data above 600° C indicate various intrinsic conduction mechanisms which are likely to be related to disorder in the CO₃-sublattice of calcite. The transitions between the temperature intervals T ₂-T ₃-T ₄ and T ₄-T ₅ are probably correlated with high-temperature transitions of calcite at 800° and 985° C. Measurement of the thermoelectric voltage indicates a conductivity dominated by negatively charged carriers.