TABLE 1. Bone tissue specific gravities (SG) when fresh and dry. The dry bone tissue SG of 2.3 is attainable at very high temperatures, while a value of 2.26 is more likely applicable to dried skeletons at room temperature. The tissue fraction percentages and SGs are approximate values are based on Gong et al. (1964a), Tont et al. (1977) and O'Flaherty (1991) studies.
| Tissue | Water | Volatile inorganic |
Organic | Ash | SG |
| Tissue fraction | 25.5% | 4.5% | 35% | 35% | - |
| Tissue SG | 1.00 | 1.70 | 1.45 | 3.15 | - |
| Fresh bone SG | 0.26 | 0.08 | 0.51 | 1.10 | 1.94 |
| Dry bone SG I | - | 0.08 | 0.51 | 1.10 | 2.26 |
| Dry bone SG II | - | - | 0.51 | 1.10 | 2.30 |
TABLE 2. Bone tissue mass in the adult human male skeleton, both in its fresh state and when dry.
| Tissue | Water | Volatile inorganic |
Organic | Ash | Total |
| Tissue fraction | 25.5% | 4.5% | 35% | 35% | - |
| Tissue SG | 1.00 | 1.70 | 1.45 | 3.15 | - |
| Fresh bone tissue volume | 722 | 127 | 992 | 992 | 2833 |
| Fresh bone tissue mass | 722 | 217 | 1438 | 3123 | 5500 |
| Dry bone tissue volume I | - | 127 | 992 | 992 | 2110 |
| Dry bone tissue mass I | - | 217 | 1438 | 3123 | 4778 |
| Dry bone tissue volume II | - | - | 992 | 992 | 1983 |
| Dry bone tissue mass II | - | - | 1438 | 3123 | 4561 |
