LARGE-SCALE LANDSLIDES DUE TO SALINE WATER PLUME INTRUSION - AN EXAMPLE OF THE OKIMI LANDSLIDE IN NIIGATA PREFECTURE, JAPAN

Abstract

Large-scale landslides with volumes ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of m3 are scattered throughout Niigata Prefecture, Japan. There is no accepted theory, although many researchers have argued about the mechanism of these landslides. Highly concentrated Na-Cl type groundwater (hereafter called "saline water") has often been found in large-scale landslides in Niigata Prefecture. In addition, the observation wells where saline water occurs are sometimes flowing wells. We also pay special attention to the distribution of landslide-prone areas and oil and gas fields in Niigata Prefecture, which generally overlap, and saline water from landslides is originally fossil seawater such as oil-brine based on geochemical characteristics. On the other hand, anomalous high-pressure reservoirs at depths of more than 1,000 m in oil and gas fields have been known since the 1960s and are possible saline water sources. We believe saline water's behavior is key to better understanding the mechanism of large-scale landslides. The Okimi landslide, this research area, is located in the Kamiya area, Joetsu City, western part of Niigata Prefecture, Japan. The aspect of the active body is about 500 m wide and 1,500 m long, with an area of about 70 ha. The bedrock geology is mainly Neogene unconsolidated mudstone. According to previous studies, saline water has been detected in observation wells at the head of this landslide. Since the geological formation containing saline water has a considerably low resistivity value (≤ 2.0 Ωm), the CSMT method is best suited for electromagnetic exploration to visualize the resistivity up to 1,000 m depth. The survey results confirm the existence of a saline water plume rising from a "saline water chamber" located 100 to 300 m below the western side of this landslide to the bottom of this landslide (at a depth of about 30 m). The presence of the saline water plume suggests that the upwelling of saline water from the anomalous high-pressure reservoir (saline water chamber) is closely related to several large-scale landslides.