Deformation characteristics and influential factors for the giant Jinnosuke-dani landslide in the Haku-san Mountain area, Japan

The Jinnosuke-dani landslide is a giant landslide 2,000 m long and 500 m wide in the Haku-san Mountain area, Japan. It was also the first landslide to be designated as a “Landslide Prevention Area” according to the “Japan Landslide Prevention Law.” This landslide consists of alternating layers of sandstone and shale in the Tedori Formation, which was deposited from the Jurassic period to the Early Cretaceous. Based on deformation monitoring results for more than 7 years, the landslide is divided into upper and lower blocks. The upper block has moved at a speed of 80 to 170 mm/year, while the lower block has moved more slowly (3 to 15 mm/year). Monitoring data show that the variation of the groundwater level has a great influence on the landslide movement. The deteriorating effect of the weathering of the alternating layers of sandstone and shale on the landslide deformation has been confirmed by borehole exploration and monitoring.