INTRO TO SOIL & HYDROGEOLOGY

EHSH 113

C H E AH WAI YAN
LECTURER
D E PA R T M E N T O F E N V I R O N M E N TA L H E A LT H
FA C U LT Y O F H E A LT H A N D S P O R T S C I E N C E S
MAHSA UNIVERSITY
 SURFICIAL GEOLOGY
Sub- topics:
• What is surficial geology
• What is surficial geology
• Classification of mass wasting
• Controlling factors of mass wasting
• Examples of phenomenon of mass wasting
• Mass wasting prevention
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the session, the students should be able to:

• Describe surficial geology and mass wasting

• Discuss the factors contributing to mass-wasting
• Discuss the prevention measures on mass-wasting
Surficial Geology
• A study of landforms on distribution and characteristics of
unconsolidated sediment overlaying bedrock.
• It provides information on surface sediment, its morphology,
properties and genesis.
• This is important for land use planning, mineral exploration,
hazard assessment and other applications.
SURFICIAL PROCESSES – MASS
WASTING
• Surficial Processes = Geologic processes acting on the surface of the
solid earth in contact with the atmosphere and hydrosphere.
• Includes: Weathering, erosion, mass wasting, rivers and streams,
glaciers, work of the wind, coastal processes, and groundwater.
• Mass wasting refers to a downslope movement of rock or soil as a
more or less coherent mass.
• Erosion, Transportation, Deposition on the Earth’s Surface
• Landscapes created and destroyed
•Examples of agent:
◦ Mass wasting (gravity), Running water (streams), glaciers (ice),
wind, water waves, ground water
Classification of Mass Wasting
1. Flow
2. Slide
◦ Translational slide
◦ Rotational slide (Slump)
3. Fall
 Slump (a type of slide)
Indicators:
◦ Scarp
◦ “Hummocky” terrain on and below
(earthflow)
 Slump

scarp
Controlling Factors
•Slope angle- gentle vs steep
•Thickness of debris over bedrock- slight vs great
•Planes of weakness ( in bedrock)
◦ bedding planes; foliation; joints
◦ planes at right angle to slope vs parallel to slope
most dangerous
Controlling Factors
•Climatic controls
◦ Ice- above freezing vs freeze & thaw
◦ Water in soil- film around grain vs saturation
◦ Precipitation- frequent but light vs periods of drought and heavy
rainfall
◦ Vegetation- heavily vegetated vs light or no vegetation
•Gravity
◦ Shear force- parallel to slope, block’s ability to move
◦ Normal force- perpendicular to slope, block’s ability to stay in place
due to friction
◦ Shear strength- resistance to movement or deformation of debris
The Effect of Slope & Gravity

G=gravity S=shear
F=friction N=normal
F

G N
Controlling Factors
•Water
◦ increase weight
◦ increase pore pressure in saturated debris decreases shear
strength
◦ surface tension in unsaturated debris increases shear
strength
•Triggering Mechanisms
◦ Overloading
◦ Undercutting
◦ Earthquakes
Examples of mass wasting
Examples of mass wasting
DEBRIS FLOW
◦ Motion taking place throughout moving mass
◦ Includes:
◦ Earthflow
◦ Mudflow
◦ Debris Avalanche
The St. Francis Dam
The dam stood 180 feet high
and 600 feet long
Curved Concrete Structure
On March 12, 1928, after its reservoir
reached full capacity for the first time,
the St. Francis Dam began to leak. At
11:57 PM, the dam collapsed, sending
12 billion gallons of water raging
through the narrow San Francisquito
Canyon into the Santa Clara Valley.
Designed and built two years earlier
by William Mulholland to store water
brought by the Los Angeles Aqueduct
from Owens Valley. Its failure resulted
in a flood which killed over 450 people
and destroyed buildings, bridges,
railroads, and farms. The St. Francis
was only one of 19 dams that
Mulholland had constructed to store
Los Angeles' water supplies.
Preventing Landslides
Preventing mass wasting of debris
Preventing rockfalls and rockslides on
highways
Roles of vegetation
Vegetation influences slope stability by:

◦ Providing a cover that cushions the impact of rain

falling on slopes and retards erosion on surface
◦ Vegetation has root systems that tend to provide an
apparent cohesion which increases resistance to
landsliding
◦ Vegetation increases weight to the slope increasing
the driving forces
 END OF LECTURE
References & credit:
http://web.njcu.edu/sites/faculty/dfreile/Uploads/geos348masswasting.ppt.