porosity Absolute porosity is the total of all void spaces present within a rock, but not all these spaces will be interconnected and thus able to contain and transmit fluids. The effective porosity is thus defined as the proportion of the rock which consists of interconnected pores. Porosity is expressed as a percentage of the bulk volume of the rock. See also CHOQUETTE AND PRAY CLASSIFICATION; FENESTRAL POROSITY; FRACTURE POROSITY; MOLDIC POROSITY; and OOMOLDIC POROSITY.

porosity The percentage of the total bulk volume of a body of rock or soil that is occupied by pore space. The figure may represent: (a)(absolute porosity), which is the total of all pore spaces present in a rock or soil, not all of which will be interconnected and thus able to contain and transmit fluids; or(b)(effective porosity), which is the proportion of the rock that consists of interconnected pores.

porosity The proportion, as the percentage volume, of the total bulk volume of a body of rock or soil occupied by pore space.