The present invention relates to a sample holder that can withstand high pressures and temperatures. In one embodiment, the sample holder of the present invention can be used to subject a geological sample to the same temperature and pressure that the sample would experience in its native underground environment. The present invention provides a mechanism for hydrostatically confining the rock core sample to simulate the below ground pressure, while simultaneously allowing fluid to be directed through the core, as needed. In various embodiments, the material used for the housing of the sample holder, specifically ceramic zirconia, and the mechanism by which the end fixtures are mounted in the housing, e.g., a square thread or modified square thread, allow for operation at higher pressures and temperatures than is offered by currently available systems. In one embodiment, the device of the present invention can be used to analyze rock core samples via NMR spectroscopy or MRI.
