Analysis of sound velocities and elastic moduli of some minerals

Abstract

Sound velocities and elastic moduli of some minerals viz MgO, MgAl₂O₄, Al₂O₃, Y₃Al₂(AlO₄)₃and pyrope (Mg₃Al₂Si₃O₁₂) up to a pressure of 200 GPa have been studied. The pressure-density relationships have been determind using the Hama-Suito theory of equation of state based on the augmented plane wave (APW) and quantum statistical methods. The elastic moduli such as bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio have been calculated as a function of pressure. The relationships between sound velocities and elastic moduli have been used to obtain values of compressional wave velocity and shear wave velocity. The results are found to present close agreement with the available experimental data. Both compressional and shear velocities are in good agreement with the available experimental data