Failure process and monitoring data of an extra-large landslide at the Nanfen Open-pit Iron Mine

An extra-large landslide occurred on June 19,2021,on the footwall slope of the Nanfen Open-pit Iron Mine in Liaoning Province,China,with a volume of approximately 1.2×107 m3.To elucidate the causative factors,development process,and destructive mechanisms of this catastrophic landslide,comprehensive field tests,investigations,and laboratory experiments were conducted.Initially,the heavily weathered rock mass of the slope was intersected by faults and joint fissures,facilitating rainwater infiltration.Moreover,the landslide contained a substantial clay mineral with highly developed micro-cracks and micro-pores,exhibiting strong water-absorption properties.As moisture content increased,the rock mass underwent softening,resulting in reduced strength.Ultimately,continuous heavy rainfall infiltration amplified the slope's weight,diminishing the weak structural plane's strength,leading to fracture propagation,slip plane penetration,and extensive tensile-shear and uplift failure of the slope.The study highlights poor geological conditions as the decisive factor for this landslide,with continuous heavy rainfall as the triggering factor.Presently,adverse environmental factors persistently affect the landslide,and deformation and failure continue to escalate.Hence,it is imperative to urgently implement integrated measures encompassing slope reinforcement,monitoring,and early-warning to real-time monitor the landslide's deformation and deep mechanical evolution trends.