Porosity corrections for smectite-rich sediments: Impact on studies of compaction, fluid generation, and tectonic history

Abstract

Research Article| September 01, 1996 Porosity corrections for smectite-rich sediments: Impact on studies of compaction, fluid generation, and tectonic history Kevin M. Brown; Kevin M. Brown 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92093-0220 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Barbara Ransom Barbara Ransom 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92093-0220 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Kevin M. Brown 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92093-0220 Barbara Ransom 1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, La Jolla, California 92093-0220 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1996) 24 (9): 843–846. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0843:PCFSRS>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Kevin M. Brown, Barbara Ransom; Porosity corrections for smectite-rich sediments: Impact on studies of compaction, fluid generation, and tectonic history. Geology 1996;; 24 (9): 843–846. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0843:PCFSRS>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Porosity is a fundamental parameter that must be correctly determined in order to relate physical property, hydrologic, and chemical flux studies to natural systems. Traditional porosity determinations generated from physical property or seismic data can greatly overestimate the true porosity of sediments in which hydrated minerals such as smectite are abundant. To produce a true porosity distribution such data must be corrected to account for the H2O residing in smectite interlayers which can make up to 25% of the total hydrated mineral mass. Such H2O is easily removed from the mineral by oven drying and/or exposure to low humidities. Standard physical property measurements can be corrected, provided the weight percent smectite in the sediment is known and the interlayer H2O content of the mineral can be estimated. We illustrate the significant consequences of this correction by comparing profiles of reported and corrected porosities for smectite-rich Barbados abyssal plain and accretionary wedge sediments from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 110, Sites 671 and 672. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.