In 1973,part of the flat ground on which a subdivision was located became saturated and began to flow toward the Saint Lawrence River at speeds of up to 26 km · h-1.The ground that flowed consisted of silts and clays-not large,rocky regolith.What type of mass wasting event was this?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The flow of saturated silts and clays on flat ground is characteristic of an earthflow, which is a type of mass wasting event. Debris avalanches generally involve larger, rockier material, and lahars are associated with volcanic activity. Soil creep is a slow, gradual movement and would not result in high speeds such as those mentioned in the question.

In 1973,part of the Flat Ground on Which a Subdivision