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The mechanisms of complex morphological features of a prehistorical landslide on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

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Abstract

Studying the morphological features and triggers of prehistorical giant landslides provides important information about landslide kinematics and dynamics. This study investigates a typical prehistorical giant landslide: the Luanshibao (LSB) landslide on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The LSB landslide is a typical long-runout (H/L = 0.207) giant granite landslide detached from a narrow ridge as a wedge failure cut by conjugate fissures that are widespread in the mountain. Two-stage failure produced the current deposit landforms: the first failure occurred at 3675±25~3580±25 a BP; the second failure occurred at 2180±49~2005±25 a BP. These two failures occurred during ancient seismic episodes, and earthquakes were potentially the triggers. The second failure reworked local morphological units of deposits forming the sliding zone (multistage platforms and local scarps), local landslide zone (3 local landslides), and deposit zone (transverse ridges, cross ridges, oblique ridges, and hummocks) due to different mechanical states.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude for the financial assistance.

Funding

This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (42007273), China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2020M673292), Special Assistant Researcher Foundation of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhao Bo) the CAS “Light of West China” Program (Y9R2140145), and the Youth Fund of Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Y9K2100100),

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Mountain Hazards and Earth Surface Processes, Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Bo Zhao, Lu Zeng & Yuchen Du

  2. State Key Laboratory of Geohazard Prevention and Geoenvironment Protection, Chengdu University of Technology, Chengdu, 610059, China

    Xun Zhao

  3. Sichuan Earthquake Agency, Chengdu, 610041, China

    Shiyuan Wang

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  1. Bo Zhao
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  5. Yuchen Du
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Correspondence to Bo Zhao.

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Zhao, B., Zhao, X., Zeng, L. et al. The mechanisms of complex morphological features of a prehistorical landslide on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Bull Eng Geol Environ 80, 3423–3437 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02114-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-021-02114-8

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