Landsliding during a M 7.7 earthquake: Influence of geology and topography

Research Article| December 01, 1985 Landsliding during a M 7.7 earthquake: Influence of geology and topography A. J. Pearce; A. J. Pearce 1Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 31-011, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. L. O'Loughlin C. L. O'Loughlin 1Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 31-011, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1985) 13 (12): 855–858. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<855:LDAMEI>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation A. J. Pearce, C. L. O'Loughlin; Landsliding during a M 7.7 earthquake: Influence of geology and topography. Geology 1985;; 13 (12): 855–858. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1985)13<855:LDAMEI>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The 1929 M 7.7 Murchison earthquake in northwestern South Island, New Zealand, triggered at least 1850 landslides larger than 0.25 ha within a 1200-km2 (45 × 25 km) area close to the epicenter. The area surveyed in detail totals 25% of the area in which the earthquake initiated landslides. About 2.5 × 108 m3 of debris was transported by landslides in the area surveyed, equivalent to an average debris yield of 210 000 m3/km2. Landsliding was most common on well-bedded and jointed, calcareous, Tertiary mudstones and fine sandstones and was particularly concentrated on scarp slopes in areas of both gentle and moderate to steep dip. On moderately to steeply dipping mudstones, scarp slopes facing away from the origin of the seismic waves were particularly prone to landsliding. Large dip-slope landslides were common on thick-bedded Tertiary sandstones. Landslides on granitic rocks were generally smaller, shallower, and composed of finer grained debris than those of sedimentary rocks. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.