A large and active debris-rockslide in the Central Andes of Argentina (30.26°S): Morphometry and triggering mechanisms

Abstract

A large (>0.1 km2) and complex mass movement in the Central Andes of Argentina (final portion of Cordillera de Olivares, Frontal Cordillera), was studied to identify the triggering factors and understand their relationship with geomorphic, cryogenic and climatic dynamics. This debris-rockslide is composed of clast supported blocks of Permian–Triassic volcanic breccias. In order to characterize this feature, high resolution satellite imagery interpretation was carried out, together with the study of the landslide detachment zones and landslide bodies. These debris-rockslide events could have originated as a consequence of the combination of internal slow deformation and fragmentation under periglacial conditions, followed by a sudden collapse of the rock mass. Pre- and post-slide digital elevation models (DEMs) were created from topographical data with the help of a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool. Approximately 14.89 M m3 of rock and debris travelled nearly 2 km from an elevation of 5023 m–4325 m asl. Although usually the origin of such catastrophic movements is related to seismically active areas with earthquakes whose magnitude frequently exceed Ms 6, our hypothesis is that this debris-rockslide event has a climatic origin caused by large snow accumulations during winters and subsequent fast meltdown processes during spring, which would have facilitated the sliding. The paper outlines the important role that snowmelt can play in the genesis and evolution of rock displacements and the importance of meteorological data, seismic catalogues, historical aerial photography and satellite images in geomorphological back-analysis.