Can the human mind really fathom the discontinuation of consciousness?

If the mind is merely material, consciousness ends definitively with the cessation of biological existence. If the mind is not merely material, then perhaps some manner of immortality might be possible-- but I do not know if this could be determined or proven simply on empirical grounds. Empirical investigations rule out this possibility from the get go and even if such a spiritual "mind" were to manifest itself, an empirical investigation would not likely be able to quantify or measure its existence. I find the idea of quantum immortality to be the empirical equivalent of asking and answering the question of how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.