Nanometer-scale pore fluid distribution and drying damage in preserved clay cores from Belgian clay formations inferred by BIB-cryo-SEM

This contribution reports on the distribution of in situ pore-water in preserved clay cores from Belgium (Boom Clay at HADES URF level and clay from the Pittem Member of the Gent Formation) and identification of typical pore-scale damage induced by drying. BIB–cryo-SEM (Broad Ion beam–cryogenic-SEM) shows that the majority of pores visible at the resolution of SEM (>50nm) does not contain water, suggesting that the water content measured by weight loss is located in clay aggregates, in pores