Electrical anisotropy calculation of the continental crust by resistor network-based circuit simulations

Electrical anisotropy has been broadly observed by magnetotelluric (MT) surveys in the continental crust. It is proposed to be caused by rock microfabrics, lithologic layering, or oriented alignment of fluid or melt in rocks, whereas the validity of these mechanisms has not yet been verified due to the lack of experimental and computational evidence. Laboratory measurements on the electrical anisotropy of crustal rocks are extremely challenging when considering microfabrics and oriented microcracks filled with fluid. In contrast, numerical modeling, being an efficient approach, can be used to compute the anisotropic physical properties of rocks. In this study, the electrical anisotropy of crustal rocks was first modeled by circuit simulation techniques using a random resistor network model, based on the lattice-preferred orientation, modal compositions, and mineral electrical conductivity. The results indicate that the conversion from single crystals to the corresponding aggregates leads to a great reduction in electrical anisotropy, particularly for quartz single crystal with high anisotropy. Moreover, the electrical anisotropy of two-phase aggregates decreases with the increasing proportion of the second low-anisotropy minerals (e.g., plagioclase), such as from quartzite to granite. For layered lithology, the lower-crustal gabbro has higher electrical anisotropy compared to middle-crustal quartz-bearing rocks. The modeled electrical anisotropy from the middle to lower crust matches well with the geophysical observations in the Central Great Basin. • A novel random resistor network model is developed to calculate crustal electrical anisotropy based on rock microfabrics and electrical properties. • Three representative mechanisms for crustal electrical anisotropy are quantitatively evaluated. • The observed electrical anisotropy in the Central Great Basin can be well explained by our modeling results.