Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru
This study presents the geological and geomorphological characterization of the Pie de la Cuesta landslide, a large (>60 ha) slow-moving (up 4.5 m/month) landslide in Southern Peru. The landslide has been active since 1975 and underwent a significant re-activation in 2016; the mass movement has c...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Rosmery Infa Antenor Chavez Jorge Soto Joseph Huanca Gioachino Roberti Brent Ward Rigoberto Aguilar Teresa Teixidó |
| author_facet | Rosmery Infa Antenor Chavez Jorge Soto Joseph Huanca Gioachino Roberti Brent Ward Rigoberto Aguilar Teresa Teixidó |
| author_sort | Rosmery Infa |
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| description | This study presents the geological and geomorphological characterization of the Pie de la Cuesta landslide, a large (>60 ha) slow-moving (up 4.5 m/month) landslide in Southern Peru. The landslide has been active since 1975 and underwent a significant re-activation in 2016; the mass movement has caused the loss of property and agricultural land and it is currently moving, causing further damage to property and land. We use a combination of historical aerial photographs, satellite images and field work to characterize the landslide’s geology and geomorphology. The landslide is affecting the slope of the Vitor Valley, constituted by a coarsening upward sedimentary sequence transitioning from layers of mudstone and gypsum at the base, to sandstone and conglomerate at the top with a significant ignimbrite layer interbedded within conglomerates near the top of the sequence. The landslide is triggered by an irrigation system that provides up to 10 L/s of water infiltrating the landslide mass. This water forms two groundwater levels at lithological transitions between conglomerates and mudstones, defining the main failure planes. The landslide is characterized by three main structural domains defined by extension, translation and compression deformation regimes. The extensional zone, near the top of the slope, is defined by a main horst–graben structure that transitions into the translation zone defined by toppling and disaggregating blocks that eventually become earth flows that characterize the compressional zone at the front of the landslides, defined by thrusting structures covering the agricultural land at the valley floor. The deformation rates range from 8 cm/month at the top of the slope to 4.5 m/month within the earth flows. As of May 2023, 22.7 ha of potential agricultural land has been buried. |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-93726045fdfd44c9b249d2e296efa00e2025-08-20T02:28:05ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632024-10-01141129110.3390/geosciences14110291Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, PeruRosmery Infa0Antenor Chavez1Jorge Soto2Joseph Huanca3Gioachino Roberti4Brent Ward5Rigoberto Aguilar6Teresa Teixidó7Facultad de Geología, Geofísica y Minas, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa 04000, PeruFacultad de Geología, Geofísica y Minas, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa 04000, PeruFacultad de Geología, Geofísica y Minas, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa 04000, PeruFacultad de Geología, Geofísica y Minas, Universidad Nacional de San Agustín de Arequipa, Arequipa 04000, PeruMount Meager Consulting Inc., 17-38173 Westway Avenue, Squamish, BC V8B0Y4, CanadaDepartment of Earth Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A1S6, CanadaInstituto Geológico Minero y Metalúrgico, Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Riesgo Geológico, Arequipa 04000, PeruInstituto Andaluz de Geofísica y Prevención de Desastres Sísmicos, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, SpainThis study presents the geological and geomorphological characterization of the Pie de la Cuesta landslide, a large (>60 ha) slow-moving (up 4.5 m/month) landslide in Southern Peru. The landslide has been active since 1975 and underwent a significant re-activation in 2016; the mass movement has caused the loss of property and agricultural land and it is currently moving, causing further damage to property and land. We use a combination of historical aerial photographs, satellite images and field work to characterize the landslide’s geology and geomorphology. The landslide is affecting the slope of the Vitor Valley, constituted by a coarsening upward sedimentary sequence transitioning from layers of mudstone and gypsum at the base, to sandstone and conglomerate at the top with a significant ignimbrite layer interbedded within conglomerates near the top of the sequence. The landslide is triggered by an irrigation system that provides up to 10 L/s of water infiltrating the landslide mass. This water forms two groundwater levels at lithological transitions between conglomerates and mudstones, defining the main failure planes. The landslide is characterized by three main structural domains defined by extension, translation and compression deformation regimes. The extensional zone, near the top of the slope, is defined by a main horst–graben structure that transitions into the translation zone defined by toppling and disaggregating blocks that eventually become earth flows that characterize the compressional zone at the front of the landslides, defined by thrusting structures covering the agricultural land at the valley floor. The deformation rates range from 8 cm/month at the top of the slope to 4.5 m/month within the earth flows. As of May 2023, 22.7 ha of potential agricultural land has been buried.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/11/291anthropogenic landslideslow-moving landslideirrigation-triggered mass movementsearth flow |
| spellingShingle | Rosmery Infa Antenor Chavez Jorge Soto Joseph Huanca Gioachino Roberti Brent Ward Rigoberto Aguilar Teresa Teixidó Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru Geosciences anthropogenic landslide slow-moving landslide irrigation-triggered mass movements earth flow |
| title | Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru |
| title_full | Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru |
| title_fullStr | Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru |
| title_full_unstemmed | Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru |
| title_short | Geological and Geomorphological Characterization of the Anthropogenic Landslide of Pie de la Cuesta in the Vitor Valley, Arequipa, Peru |
| title_sort | geological and geomorphological characterization of the anthropogenic landslide of pie de la cuesta in the vitor valley arequipa peru |
| topic | anthropogenic landslide slow-moving landslide irrigation-triggered mass movements earth flow |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/14/11/291 |
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