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.

Pyrite in Sliding Mud: A Potential Indicator of Landslide Development

A new principle of geochemical conditions within a landslide slip zone is presented based on the concept of a self-sealing closed system for which newly formed pyrite should be considered as a potential indicator. Once slip zones occur, a series of water-rock interactions may take place, particularly, a change in redox conditions simultaneously with progression of the landslide. This change induces weathering of the debris and bed rocks, and leads to accumulation of newly formed sliding mud within the slip zone. Pyrite formation along with clay mineral accumulation occurs under a weak alkaline-strong reducing environment along with landslide development. Thus, formation of neogenetic pyrite, iron speciation, and clay mineralization are all important factors for a better understanding of landslide progression.

Landslide mapping and analysis along the China-Pakistan Karakoram Highway based on SBAS-InSAR detection in 2017

The Karakoram Highway(KKH),a part of the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC),is a major highway connecting northern Pakistan to China.The inventorying and analysis of landslides along KKH are challenging because of poor accessibility,vast study area,limited availability of ground-based datasets,and the complexity of landslide processes in the region.In order to preserve life,property,and infrastructure,and to enable the uninterrupted and efficient operation of the KKH,it is essential to strengthen measures for the prevention and control of geological disasters.In the present study,SBASInSAR(Small Baseline Subsets-Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar)was used to process 150 scenes of Sentinel 1-A images in the year 2017 along the Karakoram Highway.A total of 762 landslides,including 57 complex landslides,126 rock falls,167 debris slides,and 412 unstable slopes,ranging in size between 0.0017 and 10.63 km2 were identified.Moreover,this study also gains an inventory of 40 active glacier movements in this region.Landslide categorization,displacements characteristics,spatial distribution,and their relationship with various contributing factors have been successfully investigated along the entire KKH using image interpretation and frequency-area statistics.The criteria adopted for landslides categorization is presented in the study.The results showed that the 2-D ground deformation derived in Hunza valley echoes well with the general regional landslides characteristics.The spatial distribution analysis revealed that there are clumped distributions of landslides in the Gaizi,Tashkurgan,and Khunjerab in China,as well as in Hunza valley,and north of Chilas city in Pakistan.Statistical results indicated that these landslides mainly occur on south-facing slopes with a slope angle of 20°–45°and elevation relief of 550–2,100 m.Landslide development is also related to low vegetation cover and weathering effects in mountain gullies.Overall,our study provides scientific data support and theoretical references for prevention,control,and mitigation of geological disasters in the Karakoram region.