Russian Journal of Earth Sciences
Vol. 5, No. 4, August 2003
Petrophysical properties of Quaternary lavas of Spitsbergen
V. M. Ladygin, Ju. V. Frolova, and Yu. S. Genshaft
Abstract
The chemical and mineralogical composition, structure and pertophysical
properties of volcanic rocks, composing three Quaternary volcanoes of Spitsbergen
island - Sverrefjellet, Halvdanpiggen and Sigurdfjellet - have been studied and compared.
The sharp tendency of basalts elastic properties' change in a row of volcanism
"rejuvenation'' - Sigurdfjellet - Halvdanpiggen - Sverrefjellet has been obtained.
The
same links between petrophysical characteristics have been defined for all studied
volcanoes. This paper reveals the benefits of petrophysical properties - density
( r ),
porosity ( P ), velocity of longitudinal waves ( Vp ), strength ( Rc ) - for the definition of lava
flows within basaltic outcrops. The petrophysical peculiarities of Spitsbergen basalts
have been shown in comparison with basalts from various tectonic unites of the Earth
- rifts, island arcs and foldbelts.