The Role of Geological and Geotechnical Factors in Shale Slope Instability: Case of Landslides on Road Embankments, Tizi Ouadrene Sector - Rif Extern, Morocco

Abstract

Constructing roads in geologically unstable regions such as northern Morocco poses a major challenge. The Tizi Ouadrene sector, located in the Rif External Nappe of the Rif Belt, exemplifies a significant complexity in this issue, with a risk of landslides threatening the road embankments in this area. This study aims to characterize the frequent Cretaceous shales in the study area and analyze the landslides that have occurred on the road embankments cut into these shales. It examines the role of lithology, geometry, tectonics, human activity, and water in these landslides. The geological structure of slopes and their geometric configuration are crucial factors in determining the occurrence, distribution, and other characteristics of these landslides. Defects are controlled by the relative position of sedimentary and tectonic discontinuities, as well as the relative abundance of indurated shales compared to crushed ones. Crushed shales are susceptible to rotational slides, while the indurated ones are prone to planar and wedge sliding. The latter are mainly associated with bedding planes, particularly those oriented N65-80 with slopes facing south and SSE, as well as NW-SE and NE-SW-trending fractures. Hydrological, tectonic, and anthropogenic factors also contribute to the instability.