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Lecture Topic: Mass Wasting

Tables 16.4
Figures 16.13, 16.17**
Key Terms angle of repose, consolidated material, creep, mass wasting, slump, talus,
unconsolidated material

Mass wasting includes all the processes by which rock and soil move downhill under
the influence of gravity. Mass wasting is part of the general erosion of the land surface.
The angle of repose increases with particle size and angularity.

Moist sand sticks together to maintain a steep slope. Wet sand slides and flows to a low
angle. Water in some pore spaces binds particles, but water between all particles keeps
them apart and allows them to flow.
Various forms of mass wasting can be recognized:
Rockfall newly detached blocks of rock fall freely from a cliff or mountain side.
Talus accumulates at the base of the cliff.

Rockslide rocks slide down a slope. Whole masses of bedrock can slide rapidly
as a single unit. Movement usually occurs along downward-sloping bedding
planes or joints.
Creep the slow downhill movement of soil or fine-grained debris. Moving at 1-
10 mm/year it can proceed for many years before being noticed.

Earthflow fluid mass movements of fine-grained materials like soil, clay, and
weathered shale

Debris flow fluid mass movement of rock fragments supported by a muddy


matrix. Much material is coarser than sand. Rate of movement can be a few to
tens of km/hr.
Mudflow flowing mass of material mostly finer than sand, along with some
larger debris, and including large amounts of water. Mud offers little resistance to
flow, and mudflows typically travel at many km/hr. Prolonged rain events or
sudden snowmelt can trigger mudflows in normally dry, stables slope areas.
Slump slow slide of unconsolidated material that travels as a unit. Movements
is usually along a slip surface.

Common type of landslide consists of an upper slump and a lower flow


o Slump slide of unconsolidated material that travels as a unit. Movement
is usually along a slip surface
o Earthflow fluid-like mass movements of fine-grained materials. The
material in the flow deposit is chaotically arranged.

A cut at the toe of a slope can create instability. The length of a section over which
friction can oppose gravity has been dramatically shortened. Subsequently, the hillslope
fails, or a landslide occurs.

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