A detailed study of physical properties was made on core samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole 504B. The measured properties are density, porosity, sonic velocity, electrical resistivity, and fluid permeability. Basalts from this young oceanic crust have higher density and sonic velocity than the average DSDP basalts. Porosity (and temperature) dependences of physical properties are given by V = Vo - a-phi; roo = roo-0 exp(E/RT)phi-q; k = k0' phi2q-1; where V is the sonic velocity (km/s), Vo = 6.45 (km/s), a = 0.111 (km/s %), phi is the porosity (%), roo is the electrical resistivity (ohm m), roo-0 = 0.002 (ohm m), E = 2.7 (Kcal/mol) for fresh basalts, RT has its usual meaning, q = 1.67 ± 0.27, k is the permeability, k0' = (1 to about 10) x 10-12 (cm2). Porosity distribution in the crust in this area is estimated by combining the seismic velocity distribution and velocity-porosity relation. Because of the rapid decrease in porosity with depth, resistivity increases and permeability decreases rapidly with depth. The decreasing rate of permeability with increasing depth is approximately given by k(cm2) = 2 x 10-10 exp(-z (km)/0.3).

Supplement to: Karato, Shun-ichiro (1983): Physical properties of basalts from Deep Sea Drilling Project Hole 504B, Costa Rica Rift. In: Cann, JR; Langseth, MG; Honnorez, J; Von Herzen, RP; White, SM; et al. (eds.), Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (U.S. Govt. Printing Office), 69, 687-695