Journey to the Center of the Earth
Optics & Photonics Focus
Volume 16 Story 9 - 7/3/2012

Metal or Insulator

The image shows the charge density in the rock-salt structure of FeO. At room temperature and pressure this mineral is electrically insulating, but at the temperature and pressure conditions of Earth’s lower mantle it behaves like a metal. Image courtesy: Robert E. Cohen.
[read full story]

Metal or Insulator? The image shows the charge density in the rock-salt structure of FeO. At room temperature and pressure this mineral is electrically insulating, but at the temperature and pressure conditions of Earth’s lower mantle it behaves like a metal.