The imbibition of liquid by argillaceous rocks containing predominating kaolinite, illite, “open” illite, and montmorillonite with the use of absorption apparatus is described. Results of the following studies are given: (1) imbibition by pulverized and freely poured samples; (2) imbibition by specimens pressed (30 atm) into the form of small cylinders having a base of 100 mm2; (3) the course of imbibition by artificial aggregates of kaolin from Sedlec, Bohemia, pressed under different pressures (20, 30, 40 atm); and (4) imbibition by natural, oriented, ground, flat sections of the same samples which were prepared in the form of rectangular prisms, with a base of 100 mm2.
The constant k in the sorption equation, which is dependent on the form of clay particles and the tortuosity of pores in argillaceous aggregates under particular working conditions, has been computed. This constant has been calculated for water (polar liquid) and tetraline (nonpolar liquid).
A new quantitative diagram for identification of clay minerals by the imbibometric method has been constructed. In it, not only the time of imbibition and the qualitative features expressing themselves on the ground, flat section—such as swelling and nature of contours (Konta, 1961)—are taken into consideration, but also the area occupied by a drop of water and a drop of ethylene glycol and the wettability ratio Pegl/aq.