Contribution of the diffusive exchange method to the characterization of pore-water in consolidated argillaceous rocks.

Consolidated argillaceous rocks, potential host rocks for nuclear waste disposal, display particular properties (low water content, very small pore size) that require specific methods, especially for the characterization of their pore-water. The diffusive exchange method was applied to the claystone of Tournemire by taking into account the effect of swelling or micro-cracks induced by drilling. The good agreement of diffusion parameters with those obtained from the through-diffusion method showed that the extent of this disturbance was low.