Microstructural study of a natural slip zone: quantification and deformation history

Microstructure of a natural slip zone was comprehensively examined using a combination of images captured systematically by optical microscopy (OPM) and backscattered electron microscopy (BEM) techniques. Microstructural features identified on these images were processed and evaluated using an advanced image analysis system, which proved that quantitative analyses could considerably enhance the understanding of shear behavior of slip zones. It was found that variations of porosity, abundance of platy clay particles and alignments of particles are significant indicators revealing nature of deformation processes. These indicators show that global mechanical behavior of the investigated slip zone can be conceptualized as that of normally consolidated clayey soils under drained conditions.

The geometric patterns of the microstructure of the slip zone are similar to the S–C fabrics seen in tectonic shear zones. It is suggested that combined progressive bulk simple shear and pure shear modes enable to realistically reconstruct the kinematic history of the slip zone, through which particle movements and microstructural evolution were accomplished via various types of particulate flows. The results of this study show that clay mineralogy plays a more important role in the development of the slip zone than abundance of clay-size particles, while both clay mineralogy and relative proportions of each particle size fraction control the response of particles to shear deformation. Among the fractions present in the slip zone, fine silts are the strongest indicator of global shear stress characterized by their highest degree of alignment, whereas clay particles are the weakest. Highest degree of shape preferred orientation is also found within fine silt domains.     

Structural and fabric analyses of basal slip zone of the Jin’nosuke-dani landslide, northern central Japan: its application to the slip mechanism of decollement

We describe in detail the deformation structures and textures of a large-scale landslide body that developed in the Betto-dani Valley in northern central Japan. We studied the shape-preferred orientation of clasts and clay flakes and the development of internal shear planes within the slip zone of the landslide. The slip has an average rate of 5–10 cm/year under the overburden pressure of approximately 1.6 MPa; these values are similar to those of the proto-decollement zone of the Nankai accretionary prism in SW Japan. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of samples obtained from the slip zone reveals that the long axes of clay flakes define an imbricate structure. The slip was due to a long-term periodical creep, which occurs during the thaw seasons with an average slip rate of 0.16–0.32 μm/min. During the creep, the long axes of grains including clay flakes in the slip zone are developed from parallel to perpendicular to the slip direction. The observed textures provide a clue to elucidate the deformation textures and process in the decollement zone of the Nankai prism.     

Geochemical characteristics of the slip zones of a landslide in granitic saprolite,Hong Kong: implications for their development and microenvironments

Geochemical investigations of the slip zones of a landslide in granitic saprolite revealed that they have signatures distinct from their host materials. These distinctions include stronger Si depletion, higher Al enrichment, greater LOI, significant fixations of Mn, Ba and Ce, stronger negative Eu anomalies, and greater accumulations of other rare earth elements (REE). Altogether, these geochemical characteristics indicate that: (a) the slip zones have greater abundance of clays, consistent with field and microscopic observations; (b) concentration of clay size particles within the slip zones may have been from downward leaching and deposition, and lateral transportation of Al-Si solutions and colloids through pores and fractures within the saprolite; and (c) there were prevailing oxidation and poor drainage, and occasional reduction conditions within the slip zones. It was concluded that geochemical analyses could be effective in gathering clues for understanding the development and nature of slip zones in landslide investigations.     

Fuzzy-based method for landslide hazard assessment in active seismic zone of Himalaya

Landslides in Himalaya cause widespread damage in terms of property and human lives. It the present study, an attempt is made to derive information on causative parameters and preparation of landslide-susceptible map using fuzzy data integration in one of the seismically active region of Garhwal Himalaya that was recently devastated by a huge landslide. High-resolution remotely sensed data products acquired from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite before and after the landslide event were processed to improve interpretability and derivation of causative parameters. Spatial data sets such as lithology, rock weathering, geomorphology, lineaments, drainage, land use, anthropogenic factor, soil type and depth, slope gradient, and slope aspect were integrated using fuzzy gamma operator. The final map was reclassified in to five classes such as highly to lowly susceptible classes based on cumulative cutoff. The result shows around 72% of known landslide areas including the large Uttarkashi landslide in the high and very high susceptibility classes comprising of only 37% of the total area. The precipitation data from ground- and satellite-based observations were compared; the precipitation threshold and the role of seismic activity were analyzed for initiation of landslide.     

金乐滑坡滑带土抗剪强度参数分析与确定

滑坡滑带土抗剪强度参数是滑坡稳定性分析和治理工程设计的最基本、最重要参数,它的大小及其变化直接影响到滑坡稳定性的计算,并由此得到不同的结果和涉及到治理措施的有效性。通过室内试验、滑带土现场原位大剪试验、反分析值及相似滑坡类比法综合确定三峡库区金乐滑坡滑带土的抗剪强度参数,指出该滑坡滑带土抗剪强度参数的确定和分析应采用多种方法,才可获得合理可行的结果。     

典型红层滑坡滑带土自愈合效应试验研究

在滑坡稳定性分析和设计计算中往往选用滑带土的残余强度值,但许多研究发现滑带土在稳定期会有自愈合现象发生,表现为抗剪强度的提高。对于以蠕滑为主的红层滑坡,自愈合恢复值应该在滑坡稳定性评价中予以考虑。通过对典型红层滑坡滑带土样进行"剪切―保持―剪切"试验,研究处于残余状态下的剪切面在不同法向应力、不同保持时间下的愈合情况,并进行相应的分析与讨论。试验结果表明:(1)残余状态下的土样在保持一定时间后再次剪切出现明显峰值,证明了剪切面自愈合效应存在,但是继续剪切时恢复的强度随位移快速消失;(2)随着保持时间的增长,剪切面的强度恢复值越来越大;(3)剪切面的自愈合相比法向应力更依赖于保持时间。将得到的摩擦系数值运用断层强度恢复经验公式拟合,提出不同法向应力下常数A的取值,可在滑坡安全系数计算中参考。     

Investigation of the nature of slip surface using geochemical analyses and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography: a case study from Lapseki area, NW Turkey

The nature and subsurface structure of the slip surface of a landslide was studied on the basis of geochemical analyses and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) survey. Head scarp and lateral slip surfaces of the landslide marked by clear slickensided shear planes were composed of the average amounts of clayey silt (32.5%) and sand (67.5%). Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) data revealed the enrichment of Si (23.24%), Fe (12.2%), Al (9.51%) and C (8.34%) in the elemental composition of the disturbed slip surface. From X-ray diffractometry (XRD) data, six main clay types were determined, such as Volkonskoite, Halloysite, Ferrosilite, Saponite, Illite and Nontronite. The ERT survey displayed that the landslide developed as a reactivation on the upper part of an old landslide body.     

四川汶川5.12大地震同震滑动断层泥的发现及意义

2008年汶川8.0级地震沿龙门山断裂带内的映秀—北川断裂和灌县—安县断裂产生了近300 km的同震地表破裂带。震后地质科学考察发现地表变形以逆冲为主,并伴有右旋走滑。地震地表破裂带大多沿古生代碳质泥岩、页岩和三叠系煤系地层内的滑动面出露地表,这些软弱地层为地震破裂带冲到地表提供了超低摩擦滑动带。我们发现在同震垂直和水平位错达6m左右的地表破裂带,地震的同震滑动发生在厚度约0.5~2cm 的狭窄滑动带内,以发育新鲜的灰色断层泥为特征,这些断层泥是地震断层快速滑动过程中岩石—流体相互作用的结果。     

四川汶川5.12大地震同震滑动断层泥的发现及构造意义

2008年汶川8．0级地震沿龙门山断裂带内的映秀-北川断裂和灌县-安县断裂产生了近300km的同震地表破裂带。震后地质科学考察发现地表变形以逆冲为主,并伴有右旋走滑。地震地表破裂带大多沿古生代碳质泥岩、页岩和三叠系煤系地层内的滑动面出露地表,这些软弱地层为地震破裂带冲到地表提供了超低摩擦滑动带。我们发现在同震垂直和水平位错达6m左右的地袁破裂带,地震的同震滑动发生在厚度约O．5—2cm的狭窄滑动带内,以发育新鲜的灰色断层泥为特征,这些断层泥是地震断层快速滑动过程中岩石-流体相互作用的结果。     

The mineralogy of arsenic in uranium mine tailings at the Rabbit Lake In-pit Facility, northern Saskatchewan, Canada

 A detailed investigation of the mineralogy of As in the tailings of the Rabbit Lake uranium ore processing facility was conducted. The milling/ore extraction process was sampled at three different locations to obtain information about when, where and under what condition secondary As phases form. These samples were compared with four samples of varying As content from the Rabbit Lake in-pit tailings management facility (TMF). Up to 20% As in the tailings are present in primary minerals that reach the tailings directly because they are not dissolved during the uranium extraction. The remaining 80% constitute As that was dissolved during ore extraction and then re-precipitated before being discharged into the tailings pond. It was not possible to conclusively identify any individual re-precipitated (secondary) As minerals in the Rabbit Lake TMF. Indirect evidence from sequential extraction analyses suggests the presence of an amorphous Ca-As phase and a possible, but unlikely, minor amount of an amorphous Fe-As phase. However, the close association between hydrous ferric oxide (HFO) and As could be clearly demonstrated. HFO was identified to be 2-line ferrihydrite and its XRD pattern geometry indicates a substantial amount of adsorbed As. This is in good agreement with SEM, TEM and sequential extraction analyses that all showed the close association of HFO and As. Received: 14 February 2000 · Accepted: 9 May 2000     

复杂洞群地下水渗流效应的数值模拟

采用三维有限差分FLAC3D程序,以二滩工程地下洞群的结构形式为背景,考虑与不考虑节理岩体静水渗流对围岩稳定性进行了大量计算工况的准三维数值模拟。对毛洞开挖时主厂房边墙关键点的位移和主厂房的塑性区进行了系统分析,得到相应的结论,可供大型地下洞室群稳定分析时作为参考。     

黄土-泥岩接触面滑坡滑带土力学特征研究

滑带土是滑坡形成过程中形成的一层结构性较差的土体,是滑坡的重要组成部分。其物理力学性质、微观结构与滑坡的形成以及后期运动特征密切相关。黄土-泥岩接触面滑坡是按照滑坡地质成因划分的一种上层黄土、下层泥岩的具有“双层异质”结构的滑坡。此类滑坡由于在滑动中具有缓动低速的特点,往往早期不易被发现,发现时已造成了严重的危害。采用GDS三轴仪对天水地区花南村滑坡、半山村滑坡和咀头村滑坡三个黄土-泥岩接触面滑坡的滑带土力学性质进行研究,结合滑带土微观结构特征,分析黄土-泥岩接触面滑坡滑带土的力学变化特征及其变形内在机理。研究发现：滑带土中大量存在被黏土颗粒包裹的大颗粒,这些大颗粒在滑带土变形过程中经历错位、滑移等过程后,大颗粒进一步滑移受到黏土质限制,导致黄土-泥岩接触面滑坡滑带土在宏观上表现出应变硬化的典型特征。此外,剪切中孔隙水压力无法及时消散也是此类滑坡变形的重要特征之一。应变硬化造成滑带土在滑动中强度未出现残余值而导致滑坡处于持续运动中,能量的释放方式属于缓慢释放型。因此该类滑坡滑动具有缓动低速的特性。     

甘肃南部坪定-化马断裂带锁儿头滑坡成因机制

甘南坪定-化马断裂是现今仍在活动的断裂,具左旋走滑性质。锁儿头滑坡沿坪定-化马断裂带发育,属典型的蠕滑型断裂带滑坡。野外调查及监测资料表明,锁儿头滑坡规模大,为巨型滑坡,其上发育多个次级小滑坡。滑坡体由断层破碎带、碎石土和堆积黄土组成。该滑坡变形强烈,拉张裂缝、剪张裂缝多见,目前处于蠕滑变形状态,是在内外动力耦合条件下形成的。活动断裂对滑坡的形成、发展起控制作用,而降雨则是滑坡复活的主要诱发因素。因此,对锁儿头滑坡成因机制的深入研究可为蠕滑型断裂带滑坡的预测防治提供理论依据。     

Occurrence and mobility of major and trace elements in groundwater from pristine volcanic aquifers in Jeju Island,Korea

Major and trace elements in groundwater from basaltic aquifers in pristine conditions were investigated in a volcanic island to evaluate sources, sinks, and mobility of elements over a wide range of mineralization conditions with total dissolved solids from 50 mg/L to 3400 mg/L. Groundwater was highly undersaturated with respect to primary silicate minerals, indicating that dissolution of basaltic rocks may continue under conditions with precipitation of calcite and secondary silicates. Evolution of B/Cl ratio in groundwater from marine aerosols to basaltic rocks showed that the ratio could be used as a conservative tracer for interactions between water and basaltic rocks. Relative mobility (RM) of elements calculated using the concentrations of elements in the local basaltic rocks and those in groundwater showed that mobility decreased in the order of B > Rb > Na > K > Mg > Ca > Mo > V > Si > Sr > Sc > P > U > Zn > Pb > Cr > Cu > Ba > Ni > Ti > (Mn, Al, Fe, Co, Th) indicating that oxyanion-forming elements and alkali metals had the highest mobility. Compared to average RM, V had decreased mobility, and Fe and Mn had increased mobility in anoxic groundwater while V, Mo, and U had higher mobility in oxic-alkaline water. The sources of V, Cr, Cu, and Zn in rocks were estimated using the partition coefficients between minerals and basaltic melt, and the disparity between sources and mobility indicated that sinks are more important for controlling the concentrations of these elements in groundwater than the contents in the rocks. Principal component analysis (PCA) of hydrogeochemical parameters in groundwater produced three principal components (PC) which represent dissolution of basaltic rocks without significant attenuation of released solutes, higher degree of water–rock interactions resulting in oxic-alkaline conditions, and attenuation of Zn and Cu in higher pH, respectively. Spatial distribution of PCs revealed that groundwater with elevated concentrations of mobile elements was concentrated in the southwestern area and that concentrations of V and Cr were more scattered, which is likely to be controlled by pH and redox states of groundwater as well as degree of water–rock interactions.     

Temporal variation in the geometry of a strike–slip fault zone: Examples from the Dead Sea Transform

The location of the active fault strands along the Dead Sea Transform fault zone (DST) changed through time. In the western margins of Dead Sea basin, the early activity began a few kilometers west of the preset shores and moved toward the center of the basin in four stages. Similar centerward migration of faulting is apparent in the Hula Valley north of the Sea of Galilee as well as in the Negev and the Sinai Peninsula. In the Arava Valley, seismic surveys reveal a series of buried inactive basins whereas the current active strand is on their eastern margins. In the central Arava the centerward migration of activity was followed by outward migration with Pleistocene faulting along NNE-trending faults nearly 50 km west of the center. Largely the faulting along the DST, which began in the early–middle Miocene over a wide zone of up to 50 km, became localized by the end of the Miocene. The subsidence of fault-controlled basins, which were active in the early stage, stopped at the end of the Miocene. Later during the Plio-Pleistocene new faults were formed in the Negev west of the main transform. They indicate that another cycle has begun with the widening of the fault zone. It is suggested that the localization of faulting goes on as long as there is no change in the stress field. The stresses change because the geometry of the plates must change as they move, and consequently the localization stage ends. The fault zone is rearranged, becomes wide, and a new localization stage begins as slip accumulates. It is hypothesized that alternating periods of widening and narrowing correlate to changes of the plate boundaries, manifest in different Euler poles.     

含水率对滑带土强度参数的影响

滑带土是滑坡体的重要组成部分,滑带土的强度特征对于边坡稳定具有重要的控制作用。三峡库区的黄土坡滑坡因常年经受库水位变化与降雨的影响,滑带土的含水率总是处于不断变化的过程中,因而对其强度参数产生了较大的影响。针对这一问题,在三峡库区黄土坡临江二号滑坡上采集了滑带土样,对不同含水率下的滑带土进行了不排水快剪试验。试验结果显示:含水率的变化对滑带土的抗剪强度影响较为敏感;试验数据拟合发现,滑带土的黏聚力C及内摩擦角φ均随含水率增大近似呈线性减小,且φ值降低的线性规律更趋明显。     

矿物成分、特征地球化学组分对水在滑带形成中作用的指示意义:以三峡库区大型滑坡为例

弄清滑坡滑带抗剪强度降低的根本原因是滑坡形成机理研究和滑坡活动趋势预测的主要内容之一。水是滑带形成过程中导致其抗剪强度衰减的最活跃因素之一。三峡库区两个大型滑坡实例分析显示,滑带及其周围岩土矿物成分、地球化学成分的变化特征指示滑带形成与水-岩(土)物理、化学作用的方式及作用程度,从而证实矿物学、地球化学研究方法和理论是揭示滑带抗剪强度降低内在机理的有效途径之一。三峡库区黄土坡滑坡临江I#崩滑体和泄滩滑坡滑带土及其周围岩土矿物学、主量化学元素的含量变化特征指示:前者滑带形成过程中,滑带部位地下水因大气降水补给、地下水的氧化作用活跃,导致滑带土抗剪强度减低,其主要原因是其中泥灰岩碎屑的水解泥化作用、方解石溶解作用和伊利石向伊-蒙混层矿物的转化作用;后者滑带形成过程中,滑带部位地下水与外界水力联系较差、地下水的还原作用强烈,滑带部位长石化学风化、次生粘土矿物增多,可知由伊利石转化的伊-蒙混层矿物增多是导致滑带土抗剪强度衰减的主要原因。     

Kinematics of a deep-seated landslide derived from photogrammetric, GPS and geophysical data

The deep-seated landslide located at the intersection of the Gradenbach and Möll valleys near Döllach, Austria, has been the target of many previous investigations [Kronfellner-Kraus, G., 1980. Neue Untersuchungsergebnisse in Wildbächen — Der Talzuschub in Abhängigkeit von Niederschlägen. Int. Symp. Interpraevent Bad Ischl 1: 179–192; Weidner, S., Moser, M., Lang, E., 1998. Influence of hydrology on sagging of mountain slopes (“Talzuschübe”) — New results of time series analysis. 8th International IAEG Congress, Vancouver, Canada, Balkema, Rotterdam, 1259–1266; Weidner, S., 2000. Kinematik und Mechanismus tiefgreifender alpiner Hangdeformationen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der hydrologischen Verhältnisse. Dissertation, Friedrich–Alexander-Universität Erlangen–Nürnberg, 246.]. In this paper, photogrammetric, GPS and geophysical data have been utilized to derive a constraint on the kinematics of the sagging process. The photogrammetric models have been based on aerial photographs from 1962 and 1996. Displacement vectors of about 50 individual characteristic points have been determined; these clearly show the area of the sagging slope. From 1999 to 2004, eleven GPS campaigns have been carried out, yielding very accurate displacement vectors at four monitoring points. Information about the internal structure of the slope was determined using seismic surveys.

The displacements observed by photogrammetry and GPS have shown a rather uniform movement of the whole sagging slope, with a slight longitudinal compression of 0.6%. In order to extend the kinematic consideration to 3D, a special form of the equation of continuity (conservation of mass) has been applied to the 1962–1996 photogrammetric data, together with the cross-sections derived from the seismic data. The average velocities through cross-sections have been calculated by integrals of the mass-balance above and below these cross-sections. Changes of the total rock mass, due to accumulation and especially to erosion, as well as an overall compaction of 1.5% between 1962 and 1996, have been considered. The calculated average velocities through a cross-section and the surface velocities independently determined by photogrammetry agree within an uncertainty of 15%. The results indicate a block movement with shear concentration at the basal sliding surface.     

Accuracy assessment of InSAR derived input maps for landslide susceptibility analysis: a case study from the Swiss Alps

In recent years SAR interferometry has become a widely used technique for measuring altitude and displacement of the surface of the earth. Both these capabilities are highly relevant for landslide susceptibility studies. Although there are many problems that make the use of SAR interferometry less suitable for landslide inventory mapping, it’s use in landslide monitoring and in the generation of input maps for landslide susceptibility assessment looks very promising. The present work attempts to evaluate the usefulness and limitations of this technique based on a case study in the Swiss Alps. Input maps were generated from ERS repeat pass data using SAR interferometry. A land cover map has been generated by image classification of multi-temporal SAR intensity images. An InSAR DEM was generated and a number of maps were derived from it, such as slope-, aspect, altitude- and slope form classes. These maps were used to generate landslide and rockfall susceptibility maps, which give fairly well acceptable results. However, a comparison of the InSAR DEM with the conventional Swisstopo DEM, indicated significant errors in the absolute height and slope angles derived from InSAR, especially along the ridges and in the valleys. These errors are caused by low coherence mostly due to layover and shadow effects. Visual comparison of stereo images created from hillshading maps and corresponding DEMs demonstrate that a considerable amount of topographic details have been lost in the InSAR-derived DEM. It is concluded that InSAR derived input maps are not ideal for landslide susceptibility assessment, but could be used if more accurate data is lacking.     

Distribution of groundwater salinity and formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in an arid desert transition zone

This study reviews the distribution of groundwater salinity in an arid desert transition zone. By combining field experiments and computer simulation models we make a comprehensive analysis of the formation mechanism of fresh groundwater in relation to the paleogeographic conditions of lithofacies, the geochemical characteristics of the aquifer media, salt deliverability in the vadose zone and prevailing hydrodynamic conditions. The results demonstrate that (1) the lacustrine facies deposition stratum of the Huanhe formation in the Cretaceous system provides a brackish-salt groundwater environment; (2) the average salinity of parent rocks are approximately 440 mg/kg and 4 371 mg/kg in the Quaternary eolian sand and the Cretaceous Huanhe formation respectively, suggesting that parent rocks are the principal controlling factor in the distribution of groundwater quality given that mineral and chemical composition of the eolian sand is simpler than that of the Huanhe formation; (3) average groundwater flow rates are approximately 0.25 m/d and 0.1 m/d in eolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers respectively, indicating that hydrodynamic conditions play an important role in driving in the formation and evolution of fresh groundwater; (4) The salinity deliverability in the vadose zone overlying the aeolian sand and Huanhe formation aquifers are approximately 15.97 mg/L and 220.42 mg/L respectively, signifying that the combination of lithology and salt content of vadose zone, rainfall infiltration, evapotranspiration and concentration heavily influence the formation, distribution and evolution of groundwater quality. This study can provide a scientific basis for the sustainable development and utilization of groundwater resources in arid areas.