A Study of Density Variations in New Red Sandstones from the English Midlands

Abstract

Methods are outlined by which density changes due to burial and compaction can be studied, and results are briefly discussed of an application of these methods to New Red Sandstone rocks from the English Midlands. From density measurements on surface rocks and compaction tests on a disaggregated sandstone it is concluded that there is no significant increase in density with depth down to 10,000 feet if the original, depositional, porosity of the sediment is low. Compaction tests suggest that sands with a high original porosity will, over a similar depth range, undergo permanent (i.e. non-elastic) deformation producing a 10 per cent increase in density.