This dataset supports the research study "Induced Polarization of Clay under Freeze-Thaw Cycling and Desiccation Processes: Effect of Surface Cracking Propagation" by H. L. Luo, A. Jost, J. Thiesson, A. Mendieta, E. Léger, & D. Jougnot.We measured of cracking and electrical properties of the illite sample during freeze-thaw cycling and desiccation processes by controlling the environmental chamber and monitoring the sample temperature. We provide the experimental data of water evaporation and cracking behavior of the illite sample (i.e., Gravimetric water content, water evaporation rate, and surface crack ratio). Additionally, we offer complex conductivity data (i.e., in-phase and quadrature conductivities) for the soil samples at various temperatures and gravimetric water contents. Each file has its header, describing each column.