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Prin. Geo 02 MASS WASTING (Autosaved)
Prin. Geo 02 MASS WASTING (Autosaved)
Mass Wasting
What is Mass Wasting?
Down slope movement of loose material (rock,
regolith and soil) under the direct effect of
gravity
Causes and Triggers of Mass Wasting
- Role of Water-Saturation; reduces cohesion
- Degree of Slope
- Vegetation Cover
- Earthquakes
Mass Wasting
Classification of Mass Wasting
Processes:
- Types of Materials
- Types of Motions
- Rate of Motion:
=> Rapid Forms of Mass Wasting:
- Slump
- Rockslide
- Rockfall
- Debris Flow/Mudflow/Lahar
- Earthflow
Mass Wasting
=> Slow Movements:
- Creep (soil Creep)
- Solifluction
- Permafrost
=>
Mass Wasting: A Major Hillslope Process
What is Mass Wasting?
Mass wasting, also called Mass Movement,
is the downslope movement of loose
weathered materials (regolith) in bulk or
individually under the influence of gravity
Hence:
s = c + Sn tanø
Where:
s = shearing stress
c = cohesion
Sn = normal stress
ø = angle of internal friction or shearing
resistance
Causes of Mass Wasting – Resisting
Forces
Thus, the second group of causes of
mass wasting is the resisting forces
aimed at preventing slope materials
to be pulled downslope by gravity
They include:
- weathering effects
- changes in pore-water pressure
- changes of structure
- organic effects, among others
Factors Contributing to Reduce Resisting Forces of slope
Material (Slope Strength)
Weathering Effects Disintegration of granular rocks,
hydration of clay minerals,
dissolution of cementing
minerals in rock or soil
Changes in Pore-water Saturation, softening of material
Pressure
Changes in Structure Creation of fissures in shale and
clays, remoulding of sand and
sensitive clays
Organic Effects Burrowing of animals, decay of
tree roots
Causes of Mass Wasting – Resisting
Forces
In conclusion, slope failures resulting in mass wasting
occur when the resisting forces (shear strength) of
slope materials are less than its shear stress due to
gravity
- Role of water
- Degree of slope
- Type of clay
- Vegetation cover and
- Earthquakes (play different
roles
in creating downslope
movements)
Causes of Mass Wasting – Trigger Factors
Role of Water in Mass Wasting:
- Heavy rains/rapid snow melt
saturate
weathered regolith and help to
trigger mass wasting
Role of Earthquakes:
- earthquake and its after-shocks can
dislodge enormous volume of rock and debris
and important in sudden release
of rocks to cause rock avalanche
Causes of Mass Wasting – Trigger Factors
- Massive slide can be triggered by
earthquakes
Debris fall
Debris Avalanche:
- Slides:
Debris Slides
Rockslides
- Flows:
Earthflows
Debris Flow or Mudflows or Lahar
Types of Mass Wasting Based on
Rate of Movement and Amount of Water
Slow Mass Movement: Creep
rate of movement is slow (0.1 mm
to 10 m/yr) depending on:
- slope angle
- susceptibility of the materials
- intensity of the processes
- water content
Rockslides
- Flows:
Earthflows
Debris Flow or Mudflows
formation in semi-arid to
arid environments
A. slump B. rockslide
C debris flow D. solifluction
Review Questions for Mass Wasting
16. Curvature of tree trunk close to the base, as
shown in this photo, is a strong evidence of
this type of mass wasting: _________.
A. solifluction B. lahar
C. soil creep D. debris flow
Review Questions for Mass Wasting
17. Cliff profiles contain the following
distinctive segments:
A. a fall face segment
B. a talus straight slope segment
C. a concave slope
D. A and B
18. The inherent frictional properties of slope
materials are related to:
A. Particle size of slope materials
B. Particle shape
C. Crushing resistance
D. Particle arrangement
E. All of the above answers
Review Questions for Mass Wasting