Abstract
The geomorphological and geological characteristics, distributions, and ages of block slopes that developed at two alluvial cones (Bentenzawa valley and Okumatazirodani valley) along the Azusa River in the Kamikochi area, northern Japanese Alps, are clarified. These block slopes were believed to be of Pleistocene glacial origin in previous studies. A field survey was conducted, applying microtremor array observations to estimate subsurface geology, and in situ terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) dating to estimate age of occurrence. At the Bentenzawa alluvial cone, the block slope is composed of large blocks and lithic fragments originating from heterogeneous igneous rocks, mainly of welded tuff and granophyre, that do not exist in the Bentenzawa valley watershed. Large blocks and lithic fragments of the block slope show clast-supported facies accompanied by jigsaw-crack fracture structures without a fine matrix. A mass of rock blocks fell from a steep wall of igneous rocks around the head of the Okumatajirodani valley, at approximately 2280 to 3090 m a.s.l., on the opposite side of the Bentenzawa valley. Rock slope failure and runout debris flow of blocks are thought to be the principal motions behind the mass movement from the rockwall. Block behavior comprised 3 km horizontal and 1.5 km vertical movements. Blocks were finally transported to the alluvial cone of the Bentenzawa valley to form an opposing impact slope. The results of microtremor array observations suggest that materials of rock blocks about 20 m thick spread and were buried beneath the present riverbed of the Azusa River. The estimated volume of landslide materials is more than 1.1 × 107 m3; age is estimated to be 6900 ± 1000 yrs BP. The Bentennzawa block slope is not of glacial origin. The block slope at the Okumatajirodani alluvial cone consists of large lithic fragments of igneous rocks distributed in this watershed. A mass of rock blocks was supplied by slope failure or debris flow in the Okumatajirodani valley, and was transported and emplaced on the alluvial cone. The volume of the failure is estimated to exceed 2.9 × 105 m3 and its age is estimated to be 900 ± 100 yrs BP.
