We have measured mechanical damping in partially saturated Berea sandstone that is strongly dependent on the presence of a small amount of oil. This effect is observed as a function of water saturation and average strain amplitude. These observations are presented as evidence of a damping mechanism previously observed and characterized in artificial cracks. We conclude that this damping effect is due to surface chemistry changes in the rock, and infer that seismic attenuation can be used to monitor small changes in pore fluid chemistry under certain conditions.