Large gravitational rock slope deformation affects Precambrian gneisses
at four localities of the Romsdalen valley of Western Norway. At
each locality, detailed studies have allowed to determine the mechanism
of deformation and to assess the degree of susceptibility for failure.
1) Svarttinden is a 4.3 Mm3 translational rockslide. Its single basal
detachment developed along a foliation-parallel cataclastic fault.
Although a rockslide occurred along the same detachment and the deposits
reached the edge of the plateau, no displacement of the current instability
is detected. 2) At Flatmark distinct 2-25 Mm3 blocks detached from
the edge of the plateau by an opening along the steep foliation.
The collapse of the blocks is explained by a complex mechanism of
sliding and toppling. No displacement is actually detected on the
instabilities. 3) At Børa blocks located at the edge of the plateau
deformed by the same mechanism as at Flatmark. They have a maximum
volume of 0.5 Mm3 and displacement rates of 0.2-2 cm/year. The deformation
at Børa has affected a large part of the plateau and the entire deformed
volume would be of 50-200 Mm3 but it is currently inactive. 4) A
wedge failure at the edge of Mannen plateau is inferred to allow
the 4-5 cm/year downward displacement of a 2-3.5 Mm3 instability.
The high susceptibility of failure led to a permanent monitoring
of the site since 2009.