Landslides and the weathering of granitic rocks

Philip B. Durgin

Landslides and the weathering of granitic rocks

Informally Refereed

Authors:	Philip B. Durgin
Year:	1977
Type:	Miscellaneous Publication
Station:	Pacific Southwest Research Station
Source:	In: Landslides, Geological Society of America, Reviews in Engineering Geology 3: 127-131.

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Abstract

Abstract - Granitic batholiths around the Pacific Ocean basin provide examples of landslide types that characterize progressive stages of weathering. The stages include (1) fresh rock, (2) corestones, (3) decomposed granitoid, and (4) saprolite. Fresh granitoid is subject to rockfalls, rockslides, and block glides. They are all controlled by factors related to jointing. Smooth surfaces of sheeted fresh granite encourage debris avalanches or debris slides in the overlying material. The corestone phase is characterized by unweathered granitic blocks or boulders within decomposed rock. Hazards at this stage are rockfall avalanches and rolling rocks.

Keywords

PSW4351, soil, granite, landslides, logging

Citation

Durgin, Philip B. 1977. Landslides and the weathering of granitic rocks. In: Landslides, Geological Society of America, Reviews in Engineering Geology 3: 127-131.