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A study on landslides and subsurface piping, facilitated by dykes, using vertical electrical sounding and δO18 and δH2 stable isotopes

Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment volume 76, pages 1297–1306 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

A combination of vertical electrical sounding (VES) and δO18 and δH2 stable isotope geochemistry is used in this study to trace out the extension of a dyke and for deciphering the subsurface piping phenomena in a landslide-affected hamlet, Pasukadavu, in the Western Ghats of Kerala, India. VES was successful in extracting three to four different subsurface layers characterized by differing resistivity. Two VES sections were prepared from 24 different VES locations, each one for understanding the dyke extension and for delineating subsurface conduits. The dyke was characterized by high resistivity of 800–5000 Ω.m and shows varying thickness. In the second profile, the void zone, which is characteristic of piping, is delineated through a low resistivity zone (75 to 350 Ω.m). δO18 and δH2 stable isotopes collected along the second VES profile show the same chemistry, indicating that it is the same water which flows all along the VES profile 2. A four-stage conceptual model was developed to illustrate and narrate the sequence of development of the piping phenomena and landslide activity.

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Acknowledgements

A part of this work was carried out during the Field Season Programme (FSP) 2010–12 of the Geological Survey of India (GSI). The authors acknowledge the Director General; the Deputy Director General, Southern Region; and the Directors, State Unit: Kerala, of the GSI for entrusting the work. The authors thank D. Sanil Kumar, Senior Technical Assistant (survey), for carrying out survey work and the Geophysics Division of GSI, Hyderabad, for carrying out geophysical studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, 695 581, India

    K. S. Sajinkumar & A. P. Pradeepkumar

  2. Department of Geological & Mining Engineering & Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, 49931, USA

    K. S. Sajinkumar

  3. Centre for Water Resources Management and Development, Kozhikode, 673 571, India

    C. Unnikrishnan Warrier & A. Shahul Hameed

  4. Geological Survey of India, Thiruvananthapuram, 695013, India

    C. Muraleedharan & P. Sundarajan

  5. Central Ground Water Board, Thiruvananthapuram, 695004, India

    V. R. Rani

Authors
  1. K. S. Sajinkumar
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  2. C. Unnikrishnan Warrier
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  3. C. Muraleedharan
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  4. A. Shahul Hameed
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  5. V. R. Rani
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  6. A. P. Pradeepkumar
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Correspondence to K. S. Sajinkumar.

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Sajinkumar, K.S., Unnikrishnan Warrier, C., Muraleedharan, C. et al. A study on landslides and subsurface piping, facilitated by dykes, using vertical electrical sounding and δO18 and δH2 stable isotopes. Bull Eng Geol Environ 76, 1297–1306 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1056-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-017-1056-x

Keywords

  • Landslides
  • Pasukadavu
  • Vertical electrical sounding
  • Stable isotopes
  • Dykes

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