Thermal properties (diffusivity and heat capacity) at varying temperatures up to 200°C and the thermal diffusivity under hydrostatic pressures up to 1 GPa at room temperature were measured on two basaltic samples recovered from Hole 504B drilled during Ocean Drilling Program Leg 148. Rock fabrics and porosity are key factors controlling the thermal properties of these rock samples. Estimates of thermal conductivities of rocks in situ can be made on the present basic parameters results. The estimated values can be compared with those obtained by shipboard measurements, enabling us to eliminate incorrect data. The shipboard measurements of rock samples containing a small amount of water-filled pores give reliable thermal conductivity values. The validity of measuring wet samples also is verified by thermal diffusivities of dried core samples, measured experimentally under hydrostatic pressures.

Date of initial receipt: 19 August 1994
Date of acceptance: 23 January 1995

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