The morphology and chronology of a landslide near Dillon Dam, Dillon, Colorado

Engineering Geology
By:  and 

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Abstract

Investigations were made of a landslide at the Dillon Dam site, Dillon, Colo., that included detailed laboratory and field analyses of the mineralogy, chemistry, and physical properties of landslide materials and the bedrock formations from which they were derived. These investigations provide an understanding of the relative importance of various factors contributing to the origin and reactivation of a landslide in overburden resting on the Morrison Formation. The landslide material consists dominantly of an aggregate of large to small angular fragments of quartzite and sandstone from the Dakota Formation, embedded in a matrix of very fine grained to colloidal clayey substances derived mainly from the upper, noncalcareous portion of the Morrison Formation.

During construction of Dillon Dam and associated structures, excavation of the toe of an old, relatively stable landslide adjacent to the left abutment caused renewed movement that threatened engulfment of the intake structure at the portal of the diversion tunnel for the reservoir. Remedial measures included excavation of a large volume of the landslide material and construction of a gravel-fill coffer- dam on bedrock at the toe of the landslide.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title The morphology and chronology of a landslide near Dillon Dam, Dillon, Colorado
Series title Engineering Geology
DOI 10.1016/0013-7952(69)90004-0
Volume 3
Issue 2
Year Published 1969
Language English
Publisher Elsevier
Description 26 p.
First page 149
Last page 174
Country United States
State Colorado
Other Geospatial Dillon Dam
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