A core sample holder for use with a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer or magnetic resonance imaging instrument, comprising: a top end plug, having a plug face; a bottom end plug, having a plug face; a hollow housing having two ends, wherein a portion of the ends are threaded to receive the top end plug and the bottom end plug, the threaded portions each possessing a load-bearing thread face and an opposite thread face; a top mount having an outer surface and a face for contacting a sample; a bottom mount having an outer surface and a face for contacting a sample; a sleeve, having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sleeve is connected to the top mount and the bottom mount; wherein a first chamber is formed inside the housing between the top mount face, the bottom mount face, and the inner surface of the sleeve, and wherein the first chamber is suitable for holding a sample; wherein a second chamber is formed inside the housing between the outer surface of the sleeve, the inner surface of the housing, the top end plug face, the bottom end plug face, the top mount outer surface, and the bottom mount outer surface when the top end plug and bottom end plug are secured to the threaded ends of the housing; and wherein the first chamber is sealed from the second chamber; at least one fluid transfer mechanism, for transferring a fluid into or out of the first chamber; and a means for increasing the pressure in the second chamber, wherein when the pressure is increased in the second chamber, axial and radial forces are applied to a sample in the first chamber; the core sample holder being characterized in that: the housing comprises zirconia ceramic; and the thread angle of the load-bearing thread face of the threaded portions is less than about 14 degrees. a top end plug, having a plug face; a bottom end plug, having a plug face; a hollow housing having two ends, wherein a portion of the ends are threaded to receive the top end plug and the bottom end plug, the threaded portions each possessing a load-bearing thread face and an opposite thread face; a top mount having an outer surface and a face for contacting a sample; a bottom mount having an outer surface and a face for contacting a sample; a sleeve, having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the sleeve is connected to the top mount and the bottom mount; wherein a first chamber is formed inside the housing between the top mount face, the bottom mount face, and the inner surface of the sleeve, and wherein the first chamber is suitable for holding a sample; wherein a second chamber is formed inside the housing between the outer surface of the sleeve, the inner surface of the housing, the top end plug face, the bottom end plug face, the top mount outer surface, and the bottom mount outer surface when the top end plug and bottom end plug are secured to the threaded ends of the housing; and wherein the first chamber is sealed from the second chamber; at least one fluid transfer mechanism, for transferring a fluid into or out of the first chamber; and a means for increasing the pressure in the second chamber, wherein when the pressure is increased in the second chamber, axial and radial forces are applied to a sample in the first chamber; the core sample holder being characterized in that: the housing comprises zirconia ceramic; and the thread angle of the load-bearing thread face of the threaded portions is less than about 14 degrees. the housing comprises zirconia ceramic; and the thread angle of the load-bearing thread face of the threaded portions is less than about 14 degrees.