Sound velocity–density relations in sea-floor sediments and rocks

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In studies in underwater acoustics, geophysics, and geology, the relations between sound velocity and density allow assignment of approximate values of density to sediment and rock layers of the earth’s crust and mantle, given a seismic measurement of velocity. In the past, single curves of velocity versus density represented all sediment and rock types. A large amount of recent data from the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP), and reflection and refraction measurements of sound velocity, allow construction of separate velocity–density curves for the principal marine sediment and rock types. The paper uses carefully selected data from laboratory and in situ measurements to present empirical sound velocity–density relations (in the form of regression curves and equations) in terrigenous silt clays, turbidites, and shale, in calcareous materials (sediments, chalk, and limestone), and in siliceous materials (sediments, porcelanite, and chert); a published curve for DSDP basalts is included. Speculative curves are presented for composite sections of basalt and sediments. These velocity–density relations, with seismic measurements of velocity, should be useful in assigning approximate densities to sea‐floor sediment and rock layers for studies in marine geophysics, and in forming geoacoustic models of the sea floor for underwater acoustic studies.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: