The 1998 debris avalanche at Casita volcano, Nicaragua: Investigation of the role of hydrothermal smectite in promoting slope instability

Details The 1998 debris avalanche at Casita volcano, Nicaragua: Investigation of the role of hydrothermal smectite in promoting slope instability The 1998 debris avalanche at Casita volcano, Nicaragua: Investigation of the role of hydrothermal smectite in promoting slope instability

Aug 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006georl..3315305o&link_type=abstract

Geophysical Research Letters, Volume 33, Issue 15, CiteID L15305

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2

Mineralogy And Petrology: Alteration And Weathering Processes (1039), Physical Properties Of Rocks: Fracture And Flow, Geographic Location: South America, Volcanology: Hydrothermal Systems (0450, 1034, 3017, 3616, 4832, 8135), Volcanology: Volcanic Hazards And Risks

Scientific paper

Buildup of excess pore water pressure within highly fractured rocks is held responsible for the initiation of the disastrous 1998 debris avalanche at Casita volcano, Nicaragua. Here, we postulate that the presence of smectite clay (up to 50 wt.%) in the hydrothermally-altered bedrock contributed to slope instability. Over decades or more, the clayey material probably (i) acted as an efficient barrier to water infiltration, (ii) progressively decreased shear-strength, and (iii) gradually destabilized the overlying rock mass. These effects are explained by the shrink-swell behavior of the clay-rich bedrock. During intense rainfall, formation of incipient weak failure surfaces in the superficial rock mass could have been favoured due to rapid alteration in the mechanical properties of smectite-containing clays deposited in fracture, joint and gouge interfaces.

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