Thermal conductivity was measured using the heated needle method in either full-space needle configuration (soft/saturated sediments) or half-space needle configuration (harder materials) of a TeKa Berlin TK-04 thermal conductivity meter. Heat is applied to the sample and then thermal equilibrium is sought. The heating and equilibration curve is reduced to derive the thermal conductivity value. Raw data are stored if a user wishes to do off-line or postexpedition reduction.