THE ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF CHLORITE TREMOLITE MARBLE MEASURED FOR A RANGE OF RADIO FREQUENCIES

This article attempts to present a simple approach to measuring the electrical properties of rocks over the frequency range from 50MHz to 950MHz. These electrical properties, and especially the resonating frequency points, may prove useful in the transfer of radio frequency energy to rock samples for precomminution treatment of run of mine ore. The rock sample that was used consists of calcite, tremolite, and chlorite, with minor opaques and minute inclusions of magnetite in the chlorite. The petrography and geochemistry of the sample are presented. The rock sample was used as the dielectric material in a parallel-plate capacitor. Impedance and phase-angle measurements were obtained using a vector voltmeter, radio frequency generator, power splitter, and coaxial cables and connectors. The resistivity, conductivity, and resonance curves of this sample are graphically portrayed versus frequency.