We detected large values of the complex electrical conductivity of four kimberlite samples based on laboratory measurements carried out when saturating the samples with brines with the electrical conductivity ranging between 200 and 30 000 S/cm. Both the real surface conductivity and the quadrature conductivity were found much larger than that of common volcanic rocks and sediments. Based on measurements of petrophysical properties of these cores as well as on optical microscopic images we argued that this anomalous conductivity is explained by highly conductive and polarizable clayey matrix, which shows an abundance of the saponite, a mineral of smectite group. These new data confirms usability of electrical (resistivity, and especially Induced Polarization) and electromagnetic methods in kimberlite exploration.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication27th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2021, NSG 2021
PublisherEuropean Association of Geoscientists and Engineers
ISBN (Electronic)9789462823860
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
Event27th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2021, NSG 2021: European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics - BORDEAUX CONGRESS CENTRE, Bordeaux, Virtual, France
Duration: 29 Aug 20212 Sep 2021
Conference number: 27
http://WWW.NSG2021.ORG
https://www.earthdoc.org/content/papers/10.3997/2214-4609.202120238
https://eage.eventsair.com/nsg2021

Conference

Conference27th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, Held at Near Surface Geoscience Conference and Exhibition 2021, NSG 2021
Abbreviated title NSG 2021
Country/TerritoryFrance
CityBordeaux, Virtual
Period29/08/212/09/21
Internet address

    Scopus subject areas

  • Earth-Surface Processes
  • Geophysics
  • Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology

ID: 93492262