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Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology & Hydrogeology

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The effect of weathering on Alpine rock instability

^{1 1}Quanterra, Ch. Tour-Grise 28, 1007 Lausanne, Switzerland (e-mail: michel.jaboyedoff@quanterra.org)
^{2 2}CREALP (Research Centre on Alpine Environment), Rue de l’Industre 45, 1951 Sion, Switzerland
^{3 3}Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Lausanne, no. 15, Lausanne, Switzerland
^{4 4}Div. Natural Hazard–WSL (Federal Research Institute on Forest, Snow and Landscape), Rue de l’Industre 45, 1951 Sion, Switzerland
^{5 5}ARL, Thermo Electron S.A., 1024 Ecublens, Switzerland

Weathering affects joint or fault gougematerial in the Swiss Alps, leading to the formation of smectite, which changes the mechanical properties of fault gouge and degrades slope performance. Analysis of recent rockslides in gneissic rocks in Switzerland indicates that accelerations of movements are linked to precipitation, without the development of excess pore water pressure. Processes such as weathering and crushing induce soil-like behaviour of the infilling material and explain rockslide movements induced by water seepage in both fault and joint gouges.

Key Words: weathering • fault gouge • rock instability • soil mechanics