Matrix diffusion laboratory experiments in dense porous rock are generally very time consuming and one is limited to rather short diffusion lengths, as well as to a small amount of samples. The large heterogeneity of rock, on the other hand, demands a large quantity of samples that are large enough to exclude effects from e.g. increases in interconnected porosity compared to that of the pristine rock.

Electrical conductivity measurements are very fast and larger samples can be used than is practical in ordinary diffusion experiments. The effective diffusivity of a non-charged molecule is readily evaluated from the measurements, and influences from surface conductivity on diffusion of cations can be studied.

In this study traditional through diffusion experiments as well as electrical conductivity measurements are carried out on the same rock samples. The formation factor is determined by both methods, and the methods are compared and discussed.

The surface conductivity is studied by exchanging the surface sites with Na+, Sr2+ and Cs+. After leaching out the free pore ions the surface conductivity is measured.

With the electrical conductivity method the formation factor is determined directly, whereas it has to be calculated using the bulk liquid diffusion coefficient in the diffusion experiments. This causes some uncertainties in the comparison between the experiments. In estimating the bulk liquid diffusivity, the value for infinitely diluted solutions and in pure water environment is commonly used. The calculated formation factor may therefore be somewhat underestimated.