Thermal Conductivity of Common Rocks
The thermal conductivity of rocks depends on various factors, including their mineral composition, porosity, density, and moisture content. Generally, rocks with higher mineral content, lower porosity, and greater density tend to have higher thermal conductivity.
The following table provides a comprehensive list of thermal conductivity values for different rocks, taken at room temperature (approximately 20°C or 68°F) and 1 atmospheric (atm) pressure. (1 atm = 101,325 Pa)
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| Asbestos | 0.07 |
| Andesite | 0.6 - 1.26 |
| Anthracite | 0.26 |
| Basalt | 0.92 - 2.6 |
| Bauxite | 0.20 - 0.92 |
| Chalk | 0.84 |
| Clay (soft shale) | 1.67 |
| Coal | 0.26 |
| Conglomerate | 2.09 |
| Diabase | 1.17 |
| Diatomite | 0.05 - 0.08 |
| Diorite | 2.3 |
| Dolomite | 2.93 - 5.0 |
| Gabbro | 1.98 - 3.0 |
| Gneiss | 2.1 - 3.4 |
| Granite | 2.51 - 3.97 |
| Gypsum | 0.75 - 1.3 |
| Limestone (hard) | 1.67 - 2.15 |
| Limestone (soft) | 0.84 - 3.38 |
| Marble | 2.51 - 3.72 |
| Mica schist | 0.80 |
| Peridotite | 1.67 |
| Pumice | 0.21 - 0.50 |
| Quartzite | 2.92 - 8.04 |
| Rhyolite | 1.5 |
| Rock salt | 3.13 - 3.87 |
| Sandstone (hard) | 4.2 - 4.6 |
| Sandstone (medium) | 1.30 - 4.18 |
| Sandstone (soft) | 1.0 - 1.30 |
| Schist | 0.58 - 3.26 |
| Slate | 0.9 - 3.3 |
| Syenite | 1.84 - 2.20 |
| Tachylite | 1.72 - 2.51 |
The thermal conductivity of rocks can vary depending on the specific mineral composition, porosity, and other factors.
Related Tables
References: 1) Cardarelli, François. Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing, 2018. 2) CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 97th Edition. United Kingdom: CRC Press, 2016-2017. 3) A.M. Howatson, P.G. Lun, J.D. Todd, P.D. Engineering Tables and Data. United Kingdom: University of Oxford, Department of Engineering Science, 2009.