Experimental and numerical analysis of dielectric polarization effects in near‐surface earth materials in the 100 Hz–10 MHz frequency range: First interpretation paths

SummaryThe recent developments of electromagnetic induction and electrostatic prospection devices dedicated to critical zone surveys in both rural and urban contexts necessitate improving the interpretation of electrical properties through complementary laboratory studies. In a first interpretation step, the various experimental results obtained in the 100 Hz–10 MHz frequency range can be empirically fitted by a simple six‐term formula. It allows the reproduction of the logarithmic decrease of the real component of the effective relative permittivity and its corresponding imaginary component, the part associated with the direct current conductivity, one Cole–Cole relaxation and the real and imaginary components of the high‐frequency relative permittivity. For elucidating physical phenomena contributing to both the logarithmic decrease and the observed Cole–Cole relaxation, we first consider the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars polarization. Using the method of moments, we establish that this continuous medium approach can reproduce a large range of relaxation characteristics. At the microscopic scale, the possible role of the rotation of the water molecules bound to solid grains is then investigated. In this case, contrary to the Maxwell–Wagner–Sillars approach, the relaxation parameters do not depend on the external medium properties.