APPLICATION OF ELECTROSTATIC QUADRIPOLE S OUNDING TO EVALUATION OF MARBLE QUARRIES - EXAMPLE OF ARUDY, WESTERN PYRENEES, FRANCE

The initial application of electrostatic quadripole sounding to marble quarries, combined with sedimentary petrographical studies of the car bonate diagenesis, reveals the main structural and diagenetical featur es of the marbles. This method characterizes the aragonite/calcite dia genesis, the dolomitic diagenesis by means of field measurable geophys ical parameters and therefore the quality of the marbles can be estima ted. The quantified results are related to important parameters such a s fracturation, diagenesis, fluid circulation and hydrocarbon content. This geophysical tool can be generalized to other artistic and indust rial applications.