A novel induction-based device for the measurement of the complex magnetic susceptibility

•Novel methodology to characterise the complex susceptibility, which is a real problem not only for in situ surveys but at laboratory level.•New research that influences the direction of applied physics: description of the development of a prototype based on a new methodology.•Breakthrough concept using underlying classical physical principles: complex magnetic susceptibility and inductive instrumentation.•Great application in many disciplines including fundamental physics, mining, geophysics, geology, engineering, oil industry, etc. A device named magnetic susceptometer for a complete determination of the magnetic complex susceptibility of materials and minerals has been conceived and manufactured as a complement for the in situ characterization of rocks during high resolution magnetic prospections. In this work a device and its capabilities for susceptibility measurements are described, the calibration performed with artificial samples, and the values of real and imaginary susceptibility of natural samples in a range comprising: χ=10−4 to 10−7 [SI], representative of Earth and also Mars rocks.