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Geochemical characteristics of the slip zones of a landslide in granitic saprolite, Hong Kong: implications for their development and microenvironments

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Environmental Geology

Abstract

Geochemical investigations of the slip zones of a landslide in granitic saprolite revealed that they have signatures distinct from their host materials. These distinctions include stronger Si depletion, higher Al enrichment, greater LOI, significant fixations of Mn, Ba and Ce, stronger negative Eu anomalies, and greater accumulations of other rare earth elements (REE). Altogether, these geochemical characteristics indicate that: (a) the slip zones have greater abundance of clays, consistent with field and microscopic observations; (b) concentration of clay size particles within the slip zones may have been from downward leaching and deposition, and lateral transportation of Al-Si solutions and colloids through pores and fractures within the saprolite; and (c) there were prevailing oxidation and poor drainage, and occasional reduction conditions within the slip zones. It was concluded that geochemical analyses could be effective in gathering clues for understanding the development and nature of slip zones in landslide investigations.

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Acknowledgements

The work described in this paper was partially supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. HKU 7002/03P). The authors acknowledge kind assistance provided by Mr. Liang Qi and the supporting staff of the Department of Earth Sciences and Electron Microscopy Unit of the University of Hong Kong in carrying out XRF, ICP-MS and EDS analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydraulic Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

    B.-P. Wen

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China

    N. S. Duzgoren-Aydin & A. Aydin

Authors
  1. B.-P. Wen
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  2. N. S. Duzgoren-Aydin
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  3. A. Aydin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Aydin.

Appendix: List of Abbreviations

Appendix: List of Abbreviations

Material weathering grades within the host granitic saprolite:

CDG: Completely Decomposed Granite (Weathering Grade of V)

HDG: Highly Decomposed Granite (Weathering Grade of IV)

MDG: Moderately Decomposed Granite (Weathering Grade of III)

SDG: Slightly Decomposed Granite (Weathering Grade of IV)

Field-scale deformational divisions of the investigated landslide:

NDZ: Northern Distressed Zone

SDZ: Southern Distressed Zone

Seams differentiated within SDZ:

DGS: Dark Gray Seam (Slip Zone)

WS: White Clay Seam(s)

Exploratory excavations:

AP: Trial Pit

TT: Trial Trench

SS: Surface Strip

Techniques:

XRF: X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

SEM: Scanning Electron Microscopy

ICP-MS: Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry

EDS: Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry

Chemical elements/indices:

LOI: Loss on Ignition

REE: Rare Earth Element(s)

LREE: Light REE

HREE: Heavy REE

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Wen, BP., Duzgoren-Aydin, N.S. & Aydin, A. Geochemical characteristics of the slip zones of a landslide in granitic saprolite, Hong Kong: implications for their development and microenvironments. Env Geol 47, 140–154 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00254-004-1145-6

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