Abstract
Red clay is widely distributed globally and is closely related to human production and life. The middle reaches of the Yellow River basin in China are characterized by complex geological structures, concentrated rainfall periods. The soluble salts such as sodium sulfate enter the red clay particles along with the infiltrating water, forming a red clay-like saline soil. In order to study the effects of water and salt on red clay soils, this paper uses red clay in the Heyang of Weinan with different ratios of distilled water (10–20%) and Na2SO4 (0–4%), and obtains the resistivity of red clay soils at different frequencies (100 Hz–100 kHz) using an inductance, capacitance and resistance digital bridge tester. The results show that the resistivity of red clay is negatively correlated with water and salt content. With the increase of water content, the increase of conductive paths in the pore water improved the electrical conductivity of the red clay; while when the concentration of Na2SO4 increased, the free moving anions and cations in the pore water increased, the electrical conduction efficiency increased and the resistivity decreased. The high frequency increased the conductivity of red clay by contributing to electrical double layer deformation, whereas the electrode polarization led to inhibition of conductivity under low frequency. A negative power exponential relationship exists between the resistivity of red clay and the test frequency. This study may provide a valuable reference for the rapid identification of the physical properties of red clay and its internal structure.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu-Hassanein Z.S., Benson C.H. and Blotz L.R., 1996. Electrical resistivity of compacted clays. J. Geotech. Eng.-ASCE, 122, 397–106, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9410(1996)122:5(397)
Archie G.E., 1942. The electrical resistivity log as an aid in determining some reservoir characteristics. Trans. AIME, 146, 54–67, https://doi.org/10.2118/942054-G
Bazihizina N., Veneklaas E.J., Barrett-Lennard E.G. and Colmer T.D., 2017. Hydraulic redistribution: limitations for plants in saline soils. Plant Cell Environ., 40, 2437–2446, https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.13020
Cardoso R. and Dias A.S., 2017. Study of the electrical resistivity of compacted kaolin based on water potential. Eng. Geol., 226, 1–11, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2017.04.007
Chen Y.L., Wei Z.A., Irfan M., Xu J.J. and Yang Y.H., 2018. Laboratory investigation of the relationship between electrical resistivity and geotechnical properties of phosphate tailings. Measurment, 126, 289–298, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.measurement.2018.05.095
Choo H., Park J., Do T.T. and Lee C., 2022. Estimating the electrical conductivity of clayey soils with varying mineralogy using the index properties of soils. Appl. Clay Sci., 217, Art.No. 106388, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2021.106388
Cruz-García A., Fernández-Gamboa J.R., Altshuler E., Jardim R.D.F. and Muné P., 2019. Temperature dependence of the in-plane and grains resistivities in Bi-2223 polycrystalline superconductors. J. Mater. Sci.-Mater. Electron., 30, 14320–14324, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-019-01801-3
Datsios Z.G., Mikropoulos P.N. and Karakousis I., 2017. Laboratory characterization and modeling of DC electrical resistivity of sandy soil with variable water resistivity and content. IEEE Trans. Dielectr. Electr. Insul., 24, 3063–3072, https://doi.org/10.1109/tdei.2017.006583
Dias C.A., 2000. Developments in a model to describe low-frequency electrical polarization of rocks. Geophysics, 65 437–451, https://doi.org/10.1190/F1444738
Duan Z., Yan X., Sun Q., Tan X. and Dong C., 2021. Effects of water content and salt content on electrical resistivity of loess. 80, Art.No. 469, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09769-2
Ferreira Q.D.C.G., Bacellar L.D.A.P. and Viana J.H.M., 202.) Evaluation of soil moisture by electrical resistivity in Oxisols of the central Brazilian savanna. Geoderma Reg., 26, Art.No. e00408, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geodrs.2021.e00408
Ghorbani A., Cosenza P., Badrzadeh Y. and Ansari A., 2013. Changes in the electrical resistivity of arid soils during oedometer testing. Eur. J. Environ. Civ. Eng., 17, 84–98, https://doi.org/10.1080/19648189.2012.747782
Glasby G.P., 1991. Mineralogy, geochemistry, and origin of Pacific red clays: A review. N. Z. J. Geol. Geophys., 34, 167–176, https://doi.org/10.1080/00288306.1991.9514454
Hadi-Sichani B., Shakeripour H. and Salamati H., 2018. Magnetic field effect on the electrical resistivity of Y1−xNixBa2Cu3O7−δ superconductor. Physica C, 549, 81–83, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physc.2018.02.018
Hamza J.N. and Al-Sulttani A.O., 2022. Impact of using magnetic water on the micro structure of leached saline-sodic soil. Environ. Monit. Assess., 194, Art.No. 608, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-10279-2
Hanssens D., Delefortrie S., Bobe C., Hermans T. and De Smedt P., 2019. Improving the reliability of soil EC-mapping: Robust apparent electrical conductivity (rECa) estimation in ground-based frequency domain electromagnetics. Geoderma, 337, 1155–1163, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoderma.2018.11.030
Hu A. and Wang Y., 2020. Zoning and evaluation of geological disaster vulnerability based on multi-source data integration in loess area of East Gansu - Taking Xifeng district as an example. IOP Conf. Ser.: Earth Environ. Sci., 474, Art.No. 072080, https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/474/7/072080
Islami N. and Irianti M., 2021. Resistivity characteristics of soil saturated with variation of salt water-fresh water mixture. J. Phys.: Conf. Ser., 2049, Art.No. 012029, https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2049/1/012029
Jiang X., Li C., Zhou J.Q., Zhang Z., Yao W., Chen W. and Liu H.B., 2022. Salt-induced structure damage and permeability enhancement of Three Gorges Reservoir sandstone under wetting-drying cycles. Int. J. Rock Mech. Min. Sci., 153, Art.No. 105100, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2022.105100
Kalinski R.J. and Kelly W.E., 1993. Estimating water content of soils from electrical resistivity. Geotech. Test J., 16, 323–329, https://doi.org/10.1520/GTJ10053J
Kasaya T., Iwamoto H. and Kawada Y., 2021. Deep-sea DC resistivity and self-potential monitoring system for environmental evaluation with hydrothermal deposit mining. Front. Earth Sci., 9, Art.No. 608381, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.608381
Kemna A., Binley A., Cassiani G., Niederleithinger E., Revil A., Slater L., Williams K.H., Orozco A.F., Haegel F.H., Hördt A. and Kruschwitz S., 2012. An overview of the spectral induced polarization method for near-surface applications. Near Surf. Geophys., 10, 453–468, https://doi.org/10.3997/1873-0604.2012027
Lan H.X., Peng J.B., Zhu Y.B., Li L.P., Pan B.T., Huang Q.B., Li J.H. and Zhang Q., 2022a. Research on geological and surfacial processes and major disaster effects in the Yellow River Basin. Sci. China-Earth Sci., 65, 234–256, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-021-9830-8
Lan H.X., Tian N.M., Li L.P., Liu H.J., Peng J.B., Cui P., Zhou C.H. and Clague J.J., 2022b. Poverty control policy may affect the transition of geological disaster risk in China. Human. Soc. Sci. Commun., 9, Art.No. 80, https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-022-01096-6
Li C., Criss R.E., Fu Z., Long J. and Tan Q., 2021. Evolution characteristics and displacement forecasting model of landslides with stair-step sliding surface along the Xiangxi River, three Gorges Reservoir region, China. Eng. Geol., 283, Art.No. 105961, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105961
Li C., Fu Z., Wang Y., Tang H.M., Yan J.F., Gong W.P., Yao W.M. and Criss R.E., 2019. Susceptibility of reservoir-induced landslides and strategies for increasing the slope stability in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area: Zigui Basin as an example. Eng. Geol., 261, Art.No. 105279, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2019.105279
Li P., Sun Q., Geng J., Yan X. and Tang L., 2022. Radon exhalation from temperature treated loess. Sci. Tot. Environ., 832, Art.No. 154925, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154925
Lin G., Chen W., Liu P. and Liu W., 2019. Experimental study of water and salt migration in unsaturated loess. Hydrogeol. J., 27, 171–182, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-018-1861-8
Liu B. and Li D., 2012. A simple test method to measure unfrozen water content in clay-water systems. Cold Reg. Sci. Tech., 78, 97–106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.02.001
Liu H., Jie T., Li B., Youming D. and Chunning Q., 2017. Study of the low-frequency dispersion of permittivity and resistivity in tight rocks. J. Appl. Geophys., 143, 141–148, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2017.05.018
Long M., Donohue S., L’Heureux J.S., Solberg I.L., Ronning J.S., Limacher R., O’Connor P., Sauvin G., Romoen M. and Lecomte I., 2012. Relationship between electrical resistivity and basic geotechnical parameters for marine clays. Can. Geotech. J., 49, 1158–1168, https://doi.org/10.1139/t2012-080
Long M., Pfaffhuber A.A., Bazin S., Kåsin K., Gylland A. and Montaflia A., 2018. Glacio-marine clay resistivity as a proxy for remoulded shear strength: correlations and limitations. Q. J. Eng. Geol. Hydrogeol., 51, 63–78, https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2016-136
Lu J., Liu J., Yang H., Wan X., Gao J., Zhang J. and Li P., 2022. Experimental investigation on the mechanical properties and pore structure deterioration of fiber-reinforced concrete in different freeze-thaw media. Constr. Build. Mater., 350, Art.No. 128887, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.128887
Lyu C., Sun Q. and Zhang W., 2020. Effects of NaCl concentration on thermal conductivity of clay with cooling. Bull. Eng. Geol. Environ., 79, 1449–1459, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-019-01624-w
Lyu C., Sun Q., Zhang W. and Hao S., 2019. Effects of NaCl concentration on electrical resistivity of clay with cooling. J. Appl. Geophys., 170, Art.No. 103843. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.103843
Mao J., Yuan D., Jin D., Wang B. and Wu S., 2021. Experimental study on electrical resistivity characteristics of saturated sand mixes with bentonite slurry. Appl. Sci., 11, Art.No. 12126, https://doi.org/10.3390/app112412126
Miransari M., Adham S., Miransari M. and Miransari A., 2022. The physicochemical approaches of altering growth and biochemical properties of medicinal plants in saline soils. Appl. Microbiol. Biot., 106, 1895–1904, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-022-11838-w
Noborio K. and Kubo T., 2017. Evaluating a dual-frequency-phase-shift soil moisture and electrical conductivity sensor. Paddy Water Environ., 15, 573–579, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-016-0574-7
Pozdnyakov A.I., Pozdnyakova L.A. and Karpachevskii L.O., 2006. Relationship between water tension and electrical resistivity in soils. Eurasian Soil Sci., 39, S78–S83, https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229306130138
Qi Y. and Wu Y., 2022. Electrical conductivity of clayey rocks and soils: a non-linear model. Geophys. Res. Lett., 49, Art.No. GL097408, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097408
Rinaldi V.A. and Cuestas G.A., 2002. Ohmic conductivity of a compacted silty clay. J. Geotech. Geoenviron., 128, 824–835, https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)1090-0241(2002)128:10(824)
Roodposhti H.R., Hafizi M.K., Kermani M.R.S. and Nik M.R.G., 2019. Electrical resistivity method for water content and compaction evaluation, a laboratory test on construction material. J. Appl. Geophys., 168, 49–58, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jappgeo.2019.05.015
Rozas E., Yulin A., Beierlein J., Klembt S., Höfling S., Egorov O., Peschel U., Shelykh I.A., Gundin M., Robles-López I., Martín M.D. and Viña L., 2021. Effects of the linear polarization of polariton condensates in their propagation in codirectional couplers. ACS Photonics, 8, 2489–2497, https://doi.org/10.1021/acsphotonics.1c00746
Senger K., Birchall T., Betlem P., Ogata K., Ohm S., Olaussen S. and Paulsen R.S., 2021. Resistivity of reservoir sandstones and organic rich shales on the Barents Shelf: Implications for interpreting CSEM data. Geosci. Front., 12, Art.No. 101063, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2020.08.007
Sengwa R.J., Choudhary S. and Sankhla S., 2008. Low frequency dielectric relaxation processes and ionic conductivity of montmorillonite clay nanoparticles colloidal suspension in poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-ethylene glycol blends. Express Polym. Lett., 2, 800–809, https://doi.org/10.3144/expresspolymlett.2008.93
Shang X., Lu J., Kuang L., Yang C. and Zhou G., 2018. Empirical formulae for electric double-layer repulsion between two arbitrarily inclined clay particles. J. Rock Mech. Geotech. Eng., 10, 1183–1189, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.08.005
Sharma L.A. and Thakur K.A., 2015. Relaxation behavior in clay-reinforced polymer nanocomposites. Ionics, 21, 1561–1575, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-014-1336-4
Siddiqui F.I. and Osman S.B.A.B., 2013. Simple and multiple regression models for relationship between electrical resistivity and various soil properties for soil characterization. Environ. Earth Sci., 70, 259–267, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-012-2122-0
Smagin A.V., Sadovnikova N.B., Kirichenko A.V., Egorov Y.V., Vityazev V.G. and Bashina A.S., 2018. Dependence of the osmotic pressure and electrical conductivity of soil solutions on the soil water content. Eurasian Soil Sci., 51, 1462–1473. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1064229318120128
Tang L., Wang K., Jin L., Yang G., Jia H. and Taoum A., 2018. A resistivity model for testing unfrozen water content of frozen soil. Cold Reg. Sci. Tech., 153, 55–63, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2018.05.003
Tang L, Yang L., Wang X, Yang G, Ren X, Li Z. and Li G., 2021. Numerical analysis of frost heave and thawing settlement of the pile-soil system in degraded permafrost region. Environ. Earth Sci., 80, Art.No. 693, https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-021-09999-4
Trefalt G., Behrens S.H. and Borkovec M., 2016. Charge regulation in the electrical double layer: ion adsorption and surface interactions. Langmuir, 32, 380–400, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.langmuir.5b03611
Van de Steen B., Wuytens B., Vervoort A. and Van Gemert D., 1998. Evaluation of mineral building materials: problems related to resistivity methods. Mater. Struct., 31, 126–132, https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02486475
Van Voorhis G.D., Nelson P.H. and Drake T.L., 1973. Complex resistivity spectra of porphyry copper mineralization. Geophysics, 38, 49–60, https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1440333
Waxman M.H. and Smits L.J.M., 1968. Electrical conductivities in oil-bearing shaly sands. Soc. Petrol. Eng. J., 8, 107–122, https://doi.org/10.2118/1863-a
Yang Y., Liu W., Hu A., Zhang B. and Yang H., 2020. Characteristics and prevention measures of loess geological disasters in Longdong region. IOP Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., 780, Art.No. 042007, https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899x/780/4/042007
Yoon G.L. and Park J.B., 2001. Sensitivity of leachate and fine contents on electrical resistivity variations of sandy soils. J. Hazard. Mater., 84, 147–161, https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3894(01)00197-2
Zhang D., Cao Z., Fan L., Liu S.Y. and Liu W.Z., 2014. Evaluation of the influence of salt concentration on cement stabilized clay by electrical resistivity measurement method. Eng. Geol., 170, 80–88, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2013.12.010
Zhou B.B. and Wang Q.J., 2017. Effect of pore water velocities and solute input methods on chloride transport in the undisturbed soil columns of Loess Plateau. Appl. Water Sci., 7, 2321–2328, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-016-0408-1
Zhou H. and Che A., 2021. Geomaterial segmentation method using multidimensional frequency analysis based on electrical resistivity tomography. Eng. Geol., 284, Art.No. 105925, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2020.105925
Zhou M., Wang J., Cai L., Fan Y.D. and Zheng Z.N., 2015. Laboratory investigations on factors affecting soil electrical resistivity and the measurement. IEEE Trans. Ind. Appl., 51, 5358–5365, https://doi.org/10.1109/tia.2015.2465931
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Declaration of competing interest: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Additional information
Authors’ statement: The contribution of authors in the production of this paper was as follows: Yuan Xin: Experimental Data Processing, Methodology, First Draft; Qiang Sun: Responsible for supervising writing and experiments and providing methodologies; Tuo Lu: Technical guidance on test methods; Huiyuan Bian: Data collation and analysis; Ziyu Wang: Main participants of the field test; Tao Luo: Sample preparation, resistivity test participants.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Xin, Y., Sun, Q., Lu, T. et al. Effect of water content and sodium sulfate concentration on the resistivity of red clay. Stud Geophys Geod (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-023-0124-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11200-023-0124-0