Landslides and Sink-

holes
What is a Landslide?

• A movement of rock, debris, or earth

down a slope and have come to in-
clude broad range of motion
whereby falling, sliding and flowing
under the influence of gravity dis-
lodges earth materials.
Causes of Landslides
There are two factors that affect landslides:

• Driving Force
• Resisting Force
Driving Force

• Over-steepened slopes
• Adding water to slope from landscape ir-
rigation, roof downspouts, broken sewer
and water lines, and poor storm-water
drainage
• Heavy rainfall
• Loading extra material at the top of the
slope
Resisting Force

• Removing excess water from slopes

• Adding buttress material at base of a slope
Types of Landslides
What are the different types of land- slides?

• Slides
• Rockfalls
• Slumps
• Earth Flows
• Debris
Slides

• Down-slope movement of soil and/or rock

on a plane of weak material can occur on
relatively moderate to steep slopes, es-
pecially in weak geologic materials
Rockfall

• Rapid, near vertical, movement of rocks

that involves free-falling, bouncing, and
rolling; often occurs in areas with near
vertical exposures on rock.
Slumps

• Unconsolidated materials (such as soil

and debris) move downslope in a distinc-
tive rotational motion, usually occurs on
moderate to steep slopes.
Earthflows

• Unchanneled flow of water, soil, rock, and

vegetation that moves down-slope, oc-
curs on steep slopes. No failure surface
at bottom.
Debris

• Rapidly moving, channelized slurry flow

of water, soil, rock, and vegetation; oc-
curs mainly in drainage channels.
Signs of Impending
Landslides
The following could be signs of a landslide:

• New cracks or unusual bulges in the

ground, street pavements or sidewalks
• Doors or windows that stick or jam for the
first time
• Outside walls, walkways, or stairs start
pulling away from the house
The following could be signs of a landslide:

• Soil moves away from the foundation

• Bulging ground at base of slope
• Leaning fence posts or retaining walls
• Cracks in the ground
• Cracks in the ground
• Springs, seeps, or saturated soil in areas
that have been typically dry
Sinkholes
Sinkholes

• are depressions or openings in the ground

surface.
• generally formed as the result of a collapse
in the ceiling of an underground cavity or
cavern.
Types of Sinkholes
There are four types of sinkholes:

• Dissolution Sinkholes
• Cover-subsidence Sinkhole
• Cover-collapse Sinkholes
• Artificial Sinkholes
Dissolution Sinkholes

• also known as solution sinkholes.

• occur where there is little soil or vegetation over
the soluble bedrock.
Cover-subsidence Sinkholes

• occur in areas where sand covers the bedrock

(soft limestones).
• limestone dissolve gradually, eventually leaving
a void.
Cover-collapse Sinkholes

• most dangerous type of sinkhole.

• occur where the bedrock is covered by a
layer of clay with an underground cavity.
Artificial Sinkholes

• Man made sinkholes common in urban ar-

eas.
Signs of Impending
Sinkholes
The following could be signs of a sinkhole:

• A round circular depression in the earth.

• A circular lake (or a large, deep puddle).
• A foundation settling
• Cracks in roads or pavement
• A sudden drop of well water levels on a site
• Rainwater disappearing into ground open-
ings.