| Title | Complex landslide triggered in an Eocene volcanic-volcaniclastic succession along Sutherland River, British Columbia, Canada |
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| Author | Blais-Stevens, A ;
Geertsema, M; Schwab, J W; van Asch, T W J |
| Source | Environmental & Engineering Geoscience vol. 21, no. 1, 2015 p. 35-45, https://doi.org/10.2113/gseegeosci.21.1.35 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2015 |
| Alt Series | Earth Sciences Sector, Contribution Series 20130473 |
| Publisher | GeoScienceWorld |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; on-line; digital |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | British Columbia |
| NTS | 93E/05; 93E/06; 93E/07; 93E/08; 93E/09; 93E/10; 93E/11; 93E/12; 93E/13; 93E/14; 93E/15; 93E/16; 93F/05; 93F/06; 93F/07; 93F/08; 93F/09; 93F/10; 93F/11; 93F/12; 93F/13; 93F/14; 93F/15; 93F/16; 93G/05; 93G/12;
93G/13; 93J/04; 93J/05; 93J/12; 93K/01; 93K/02; 93K/03; 93K/04; 93K/05; 93K/06; 93K/07; 93K/08; 93K/09; 93K/10; 93K/11; 93K/12; 93K/13; 93K/14; 93L/01; 93L/02; 93L/03; 93L/04; 93L/05; 93L/06; 93L/07; 93L/08; 93L/09; 93L/10; 93L/11; 93L/12; 93L/15;
93L/16; 93M/01; 93M/02; 93M/07; 93M/08; 93N/03; 93N/04; 93N/05; 93N/06 |
| Area | Sutherland River |
| Lat/Long WENS | -128.0000 -123.5000 55.5000 53.2500 |
| Subjects | engineering geology; landslides; landslide deposits; slope deposits; slope failures; slope stability; volcanic rocks; volcaniclastics; debris flows; debris flow deposits; Eocene |
| Illustrations | location maps; photographs; tables |
| Program | Public Safety
Geoscience Marine Geohazards |
| Released | 2015 03 05 |
| Abstract | On July 13, 2005 a complex 3 Mm3 and 1.5 km long rock slide-debris avalanche occurred near Sutherland River, 40 km west of Fort St. James, British Columbia, Canada. The landslide was initiated in a
succession of sub-horizontal competent mafic basalts (Endako Formation) capping weaker felsic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks (Ootsa Lake Group) of Eocene age. Several landslides have been observed in similar volcanic successions worldwide
including in southern British Columbia. Some common characteristics of these landslides are: structurally undisturbed; horizontal to sub-horizontal bedding; curved head scarp; steep joints; debris consists of intact blocks; volcaniclastics containing
smectite (expandable clay mineral); fossils and lignite within the volcaniclastics. The Sutherland landslide is one of many large landslides that have occurred in recent years in northern British Columbia. At least eight other large landslides have
been triggered in volcanic rocks within the Nechako plateau. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This study describes a large rock slide-debris avalanche that took place on July 13, 2005, near Sutherland River, 40 km west of Fort St. James, B.C. It
was large enough to trigger a seismic signature. The rapidly moving landslide travelled 1.45 km and involved 3 Mm3 of volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks and soil. It covered 40 ha and destroyed an estimated 8000 m3 of timber. The Sutherland landslide
was triggered in a succession of sub-horizontal competent basalts capping weaker volcaniclastic rocks of Eocene age on a subdued topography. This geological setting has been observed in several landslides from southern B. C. as well as worldwide in
volcanic successions, but not in northern BC until now. It is one of many large landslides that occurred in recent years in northern B. C. Assessment of the volcanics/volcaniclastic successions is necessary to identify and avoid potential landslide
terrain, which will effectively locate as safe transportation corridor across the Nechako Plateau. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 293690 |
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