Russian Journal of Earth Sciences
Vol. 5, No. 4, August 2003
Methods and results of application of the neutron diffractometry
in the
Earth sciences: A Review
A. N. Nikitin and T. I. Ivankina
Abstract
Fundamental advantages of the neutron methods, that are based on the phenomenal
properties of the neutron allow to extend the number of problems to be resolved in
the solid-state
physics, in geology and in geophysics, are analyzed in detail. A definition is given
in the review
to the crystallographic textures and emphasis was placed on the fact that the preferred
orientation
of the crystal lattices of the rock forming minerals as one of the main factors that
controls the
rock anisotropy, is an inherited property, acquired as a result of magmatism and
metamorphism
and other processes that governed the Earth's lithosphere formation. New results
of investigation
of the rock textural regularities and hence peculiarities of physical properties,
such as behavior
and anisotropy of the elastic wave velocities at high hydrostatic pressures, piezoelectric
properties of some rocks as well as magnetic and thermal properties, are described.
The review
shows examples of application of the neutronography data along with other physical
and
petrophysical methods used to resolve fundamental problems in geology and in geophysics,
such
as reconstruction of the deformations and strains in the lithosphere and studies
of the
metamorphic, geodynamic and evolutionary processes addressed to data on structures
of the
deep-seated samples (xenoliths, amphibolites and gneiss taken from superdeep boreholes).
Results of investigation of abnormal properties of some rocks which appear at a high
temperature and pressure and possibilities of their application for the physics of
destruction and
for development of the earthquake models are discussed.