Abstract
Electromagnetic waves can be used to characterize geomaterials and to monitor geo-processes. Permittivity, conductivity, and magnetic permeability measurements provide complementary information. Furthermore, events at different frequencies, such as the various polarization mechanisms, suggest multiple internal scales within materials. Three laboratory studies are presented: characterization of kaolinite-water mixtures with permittivity data, monitoring soil-cement hydration with conductivity measurements, and characterization of kaolinite-iron mixtures with magnetic permeability data. Laboratory techniques face inherent limitations, in particular, low frequency permittivity measurements of highly conductive specimens are not feasible. Likewise, field techniques are restricted by the compromise between the desired resolution and the achievable skin depth.