The complex networks of earth minerals and chemical elements

Estrada, Ernesto, Ramon y Cajal program Spain (Funder) (2008) The complex networks of earth minerals and chemical elements. Match, 59 (3). pp. 605-624.

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Abstract

We study the large-scale organization of the mineral-mineral (MMN) and element-element (EEN) complex networks by analyzing their topological structures. We see that the MMN and EEN are homogeneous, display large cliquishness, small average path length and large average degrees. Most of these networks display uniform degree distribution with the exception of the weighted EEN, which display a power-law degree distribution with exponential tail. All these topological characteristics appear to be consequence of the evolutionary mechanisms giving place to the minerals on Earth mantle, which as a whole display a relatively uniform major element composition. We also study the correlations between some topological network parameters and the abundance of chemical elements in different scenarios. Good correlation is obtained between the weighted degree and the abundance of elements in Earth's crustal rocks.

ORCID iDs

Estrada, Ernesto ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3066-7418;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)