Vol. 5 No. 3

661--662

ACTA SE1SMOLOGICA SIN/CA

Aug. ,1992

Symposiu

The symposium on physical properties of rocks held in Beijing (News of the editorial office)

According to the proposal by Prof. Ruoxin Liu and Prof. Jin M a , In-

stitute of Geology, SSB, and Associate Prof. Naiguang Geng, Institute of Geophysics, SSB, the SeismoGeological Association and Tectonophysics Association of the Seismological Society of China convened jointly a symposium on the physical properties of rocks. The symposium was held at the Institute of Geology, SSB, Beijing on June 2 8 , 1 9 9 1 .

More than 30 scientists engages in experimental study on

physical properties of rocks coming from over 10 institutes of the State Seismological Bureau,the Chinese Academy of Sciences,the Ministry of Petroleum Industry, the Committee of Science and Industry of National Defence and some universities took part in the symposium. The symposium was presided by Associate Prof. Ping Gad, Institute of Geology,SSB. Thirty papers had been submitted to the symposium. Nine of the papers were presented and discussed at the symposium for half of the day. During the other half of the day, the development of rock mechanics in China and a b r o a d , a n d the future direction of experimental study on the physical properties of rocks was discussed. Most of the 30 scientists present spoke at the symposium. The scientists reviewed the development of experimental study on the physical properties of rocks at high temperature and high pressure from the beginning of 1960s. The speakers pointed out that this field of study was concerned with complex experimental technology,and the difficulties encountered was rather great. In the last 30 years with the the progress in technology a series of high pressure and ultra-high pressure experimental devices,such as high pressure vessels of liquid medium or solid mediu m , d i a m o n d pressure anvil and flying plate have been developed. A lot of valuable data on the physical properties of the earth medium have been obtained. Scientists who recently came back from foreign countries pointed out that people abroad now are paying much attention to this subject. Some developed countries are continuing deeply this study. The scientists present that the study on physical properties of rocks under high pressure and ultrahigh pressure started rather early in China. At the beginning of the 1960 s, when only a few countries started the research on this subject, it was started in our country and some preliminary results were obtained. Later, this study was suspended for more than 10 years due to the "Cultural Revolution" in our country and so we are now lagging behind. After the Third Plenary Session of the 11th C. P. C. Central Committee, with the development of science and technology, this subject developed rapidly. Up to now a lot of data on the physical properties of rocks under high pressure were obtained by using pressure vessels. Some data of rocks under ultra-high pressure were obtained by using diamond pressure anvil and flying plate. After the efforts of the past 10 years this field of study in China has entered into the rank of progressing countries again. The partipieipants pointed out that the data on physical properties of rocks under high pressure and ultra-high pressure have been used in many respects such as exploitation of resources, prevention of

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ACTA SEISMOLOGICA SINICA

Vol. 5

disasters, defence engineering and basic study of the earth sciences. More and more industrial departments have started to pay more attention to the data of physical properties of rocks under high pressure. The scientists present considered that the study of physical properties of rocks under high pressure and ultra-high pressure serving national economy and combining with production and construction is the future direction of this field of study. This symposium played an active role in this combination. Since this study belongs to one of the basic study fields in the earth sciences, the participants thought that for the development of the earth sciences as a whole the government should give certain support to this study. We ought to treasure the foundation of this field of science that has been laid in the past 30 years by a whole generation of scientists in China.