Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of electrode contact impedance on A.C. electrical properties of a wet hematite sample

  • Original Research Paper
  • Published:
Marine Geophysical Researches Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Electrode polarization is a major problem in the determination of dielectric properties of samples, particularly at low frequencies. Understanding of these interfacial phenomena is essential in order to measure correctly the electrical properties of a sample of interest. This paper presents a comparative study of the effect of electrode contact impedance on A.C. electrical properties of a partially and fully saturated hematitic sandstone sample. The electrical properties of the sample were first measured using stainless steel electrodes with high contact impedance, and measured again with a four terminal Cu–CuSO4 electrode of low contact impedance. Complex impedance measurements at room temperature (~16°C) were performed in the frequency range from 1 Hz to 100 kHz. Measured electrical spectra vary strongly with the electrode type. The difference in the electrical properties between the two electrode types (stainless steel and Cu–CuSO4) may be attributed to the surface contact impedance between the sample and the electrode. Experimental data indicate that the electrical properties vary strongly with water saturation. The dielectric constant decreases with frequency and increases with saturation up to a certain saturation limit then decreases. Charge transport can occur either through the bulk of the solid matrix (hematite or sand) or along the grain boundaries of aggregates (water). When soil minerals are exposed to water, exchangeable ions go into solution. Most of the ionic or covalent bonded rock forming minerals such as quartz, mica, and feldspars are nonconductors. When the surfaces of these minerals come into contact with liquid water, electrolytes are formed and ionic drift associated with the electrical field causes electrical conduction. The anomalous dielectric properties of partially saturated rocks can be interpreted using percolation theory. This theory predicts that when the conductive fraction (water) increases, clustering of conductive inclusions develops, and the thickness of insulating gaps between conductive clusters decreases, causing a large increment in the capacitance of the sample. Further increases in the conductive component causes the shunting of insulating capacitive gaps.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alikaj P (1989) The study of spectral characteristics of induced polarization in search for high grade sulphide ore bodies, Ph. D. thesis in Albanian. Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania

  • Attia MI (1955) Topography, geology and iron-ore deposits of the district east of Aswan. Geol Surv, Cairo, Egypt, p 262

  • Chelidze T, Gueguen Y (1999) Electrical spectroscopy of porous rocks: a review—I. Theoretical models. Geophys J Int 137:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chelidze T, Gueguen Y, Ruffet C (1999) Electrical spectroscopy of porous rocks: a review—II. Experimental results and interpretation. Geophys J Int 137:16–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Lima OAL (1995) Water saturation and permeability from resistivity, dielectric, and porosity logs. Geophysics 60(6):1751–1764

    Google Scholar 

  • De Lima OAL, Sharma MM (1991) Water conductivity and saturation effects on the dielectric response of shaly sands, 32nd Ann. Log. Symp. Trans., Soc. Prof. Well Log Analysts, Paper G

  • De Lima OAL, Sharma MM (1992) A generalized Maxwell-Wagner theory for membrane polarization in shaly sands. Geophysics 57:789–799

    Google Scholar 

  • Efros AL, Shklovskii BI (1976) Critical behaviour of conductivity and dielectric constant near the metal–non-metal transition threshold. Phys Status Sol 76:475–489

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke H (1972) The theory of electrolytic polarization. Phil Mag 14:310–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomaa MM (2004) Induced polarization Study on iron ore bearing rock samples. Ph. D. Thesis, Cairo University, Egypt

  • Gomaa MM (2006) Interpretation of electrical properties for humid and saturated hematitic sandstone sample, presented at the 68st conference and exhibition incorporating SPE Europe: European association of geoscientists and engineers (EAGE), oral H021, Session “gravity, magnetics, mining and geothermal”, 12–15 June, Vienna, Austria

  • Gomaa MM (2007) Electrical properties of a homogeneous mixture of hematite and sand with different concentrations in the frequency domain, Paper presented at the 5th international symposium on geophysics (ISG-5), held on Tanta University, Egypt, Session G “Electric methods”, Nov. 27–29, 2007

  • Gomaa MM (2008) Relation between electric properties and water saturation for hematitic sandstone with frequency. Annals of Geophysics 51(5/6):801–811

    Google Scholar 

  • Gomaa MM (2009) Saturation effect on electrical properties of hematitic sandstone in the audio frequency range using non-polarizing electrodes. Geophys Prospect 57:1091–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gomaa MM, Elsayed RM (2009) Thermal effect of magma intrusion on electrical properties of magnetic rocks from Hamamat sediments, NE Desert, Egypt. Geophys Prospect 57(1):141–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grant FA (1958) Use of complex conductivity in the representation of dielectric phenomena. J Appl Phys 29:76–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoekstra P, Doyle WT (1971) Dielectric relaxation of surface adsorbed water. J Colloid Interface Sci 36:513–521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonscher AK (1999) Dielectric relaxation in solids. J Phys D Appl Phys 32:R57–R70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight R (1983) The use of complex plane plots in studying the electrical response of rocks. J Geomag Geoelectr 35:767–776

    Google Scholar 

  • Knight R, Abad A (1995) Rock/water interaction in dielectric properties: experiments with hydrophobic sandstones. Geophysics 60(2):431–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight RJ, Endres AL (1990) A new concept in modeling the dielectric response of sandstones: defining a wetted rock and bulk water system. Geophysics 55:586–594

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knight RJ, Nur A (1987) The dielectric constant of sandstones, 50 kHz to 4 MHz. Geophysics 52:644–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kohlrausch F, Holborn L (1898) Das Leitvermoegen der Elektrolyte. Teubner, Leipzig, p 160

    Google Scholar 

  • Levitskaya MT, Sternberg KB (1996a) Polarization processes in rocks 1. Complex dielectric permittivity method. Radio Science 31(4):755–779

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitskaya MT, Sternberg KB (1996b) Polarization processes in rocks 2. Complex dielectric permittivity method. Radio Science 31(4):781–802

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levitskaya TM, Sternberg BK (2000) Application of lumped-circuit method to studying soils at frequencies from 1 kHz to 1 GHz. Radio Science 35(2):371–383

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olhoeft GR (1985) Low frequency electrical properties. Geophysics 50:2492–2503

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parkhomenko EI (1967) Electrical properties of rocks. Plenum Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Parks GA (1990) Surface energy and adsorption at mineral-water interfaces: an introduction. In: Hochella MF, White AF (eds) Mineral-water interface geochemistry: Mineralogical Society of America, Reviews in Mineralogy 23, 132–174

  • Pride S (1994) Governing equations for the coupled electromagnetics and acoustics of porous media. Phys Rev B 50(1):15678–15696

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schwan HP (1992) Linear and nonlinear electrode polarization and biological materials. Ann Biomed Eng 20:269–288

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott JH, Carroll RD, Gunningham DR (1964) Dielectric constant and electrical conductivity of moist rock from laboratory measurements, US Dept. of interior geological survey technical letter, Special projects-12, August. 17, (US Air force, Sensor, simulation notes, SSN 116)

  • Sen PN (1981) Dielectric anomaly in inhomogeneous materials with application to sedimentary rocks. Appl Phys Lett 39(8):667–668

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen PN (1984) Grain shape effects on dielectric and electrical properties of rocks. Geophysics 49:586–587

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sen PN (1989) Unified models of conductivity and membrane potential of porous media. Phys Rev B 39(13):9508–9517

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shukri NM, Ayouty A (1959) The mineralogy of the Nubian Sandstone in Aswan. Bull Instit Desert Egypt 3(2):65–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Warburg E (1899) Ueber Das Verhalten sogenannter unpolarisierbarer Elektroden gegen Wechselstrom. Ann d Physik 67:493–499

    Google Scholar 

  • Warburg E (1901) Ueber Die Polarisations kapazitaet des Platins. Ann d Physik 6:125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Centre, Geophysical Sciences Department, El-Tahrir St., Dokki, 12311, Egypt

    Mohamed Mahmoud Gomaa

  2. Head of Geophysics Section, Department of Earth Sciences at Polytechnic University of Tirana, Tirana, Albania

    Perparim Alikaj

Authors
  1. Mohamed Mahmoud Gomaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Perparim Alikaj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mohamed Mahmoud Gomaa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gomaa, M.M., Alikaj, P. Effect of electrode contact impedance on A.C. electrical properties of a wet hematite sample. Mar Geophys Res 30, 265–276 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-010-9092-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11001-010-9092-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation