Journal of the Japan Society of Engineering Geology
Online ISSN : 1884-0973
Print ISSN : 0286-7737
ISSN-L : 0286-7737
Volume 63, Issue 1
Displaying 1-2 of 2 articles from this issue
Original Article
  • Satoru KOJIMA, Ryota NIWA, Naoya IWAMOTO, Heitaro KANEDA, Katsumi HATT ...
    2022 Volume 63 Issue 1 Pages 2-12
    Published: April 10, 2022
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The double ridges in the Kanmuriyama area, central Japan, were formed by deep-seated gravitational slope deformation(DSGSD). The sediments deposited between the ridges consist of three units:(a)alternating carbonaceous mud and layers rich in plant remains,(b)light-gray mud, and(c)orange conglomeratic mud, in descending order. Unit(c)is interpreted to be basal conglomerate above the basement unconformity. The carbon-14 accelerator mass spectrometry(AMS-14C)ages of wood fragments, and the Kikai-Akahoya(K-Ah)tephra that erupted at about 7,300 cal BP are embedded in unit(a), indicate that the accumulation rate of the sediments is about 0.25 mm/year, and the double ridges are estimated to have formed over about 11 ka. The results of the electrical resistivity tomography(ERT)survey suggest that the sedimentary basin is wedge-shaped, thinning to the east, and was formed by rotational sliding along the estimated gravitational fault dipping steeply to the east and limiting the western side of the basin. The horizon of the K-Ah tephra, with a ground surface of 7,300 years ago, is flat and abuts on the basement rocks. Therefore, it is inferred that the DSGSDs stopped major activity before 7.3 ka and the slope is now stable. The trigger of the DSGSD activity is most probably the climate change from cold/dry to temperate/wet conditions at the end of the last glacial period. Similar slope instabilities at the time of deglaciation, accompanied by oversteepening, debuttressing and unloading, were reported from mountain ranges worldwide. The lithological change from unit(b)to(a)might also have resulted from the vegetation change during this climatic shift.

    Download PDF (4375K)
Report
  • Susumu SHIBUTANI, Weiren LIN, Koichiro SADO, Nana KAMIYA, Tatsuhiro SU ...
    2022 Volume 63 Issue 1 Pages 13-23
    Published: April 10, 2022
    Released on J-STAGE: June 06, 2022
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

    The main borehole of Futagawa fault scientific drilling (FDB borehole) penetrated through the strata older than the deep groundwater aquifer called second aquifer in the Kumamoto area. In this study, to reveal the great-depth groundwater dynamics deeper than the second aquifer, we report results from observations on groundwater level change at depths below 300 m in the FDB borehole for more than 3 years. The observed groundwater level was affected by rainfall throughout the year, and indicated seasonal changes with greatly different patterns depend on the seasons. Observations on the groundwater level change and precipitation revealed that the groundwater level change in the borehole and groundwater supply from the Aso caldera rim mountains which are located in upper reaches of main recharge area in the Kumamoto area are related, suggesting the existence of response of groundwater level to rainfall at depths below 300 m. The patterns of groundwater level change in the FDB borehole and pre-existing observation wells in the plateau at the western foot of the Aso caldera rim mountains for the second aquifer located along the Futagawa fault are very similar, and no clear time lag was observed. These results indicate that the second aquifer, which is mainly composed of Aso-1 to Aso-3 pyroclastic flow deposits widely distributed in the Kumamoto area, may continue to older sedimentary rocks strata and pre-Aso volcanic rocks at depths below 300 m. Taking existing information of core descriptions and image logs into consideration, we suggested that the Futagawa fault damage zone contributes for downward extension of the second aquifer, and for the active groundwater flow systems in the Kumamoto area.

    Download PDF (1260K)
feedback
Top