Abstract
The residual shear strength of the granular regoliths was found to have a mean value of 36°. A model of microsliding is proffered to explain the shallow slides of granular material and the limiting equilibrium model gave threshold slopes of 36° (dry state) and 22° (saturated state). The slopes in the Afan basin were randomly sampled to create a frequency distribution with population mean 19.4° ⩽ μ ⩽ 21.3° (95% confidence). Unstable slopes had a population mean 21.5° ⩽ μ ⩽ 24.7° and since the limiting angle is 22° the unstable slopes have a central tendency equivalent to the calculated limiting angle. The frequency distribution irrespective of apparent stability was shown to have a population mean very near to the limiting angle so that rapid mass movement is important in interpreting valley side slope. A similar analysis was performed on the fossil cliffs of the Gower Peninsula which have scree slopes grading into solifluction benches. The various slope facets were explained in terms of the engineering properties and paleoenvironment.
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