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The prehistoric Mt Wilberg rock avalanche, Westland, New Zealand

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Abstract

The Mt Wilberg rock avalanche in Westland, New Zealand occurred before 1300 AD and may have occurred as a consequence of an Alpine fault earthquake in ca. 1220 AD or earlier. Its ∼40 × 106 m3 deposit may have briefly obstructed the Wanganui River, but only about 25% of its surface morphology still survives, on terraces isolated from river erosion. The landslide appears to have moved initially as a block, in a direction controlled by a strong rock mass at the base of the source area, before disintegrating and spreading across terraces, fans, and floodplains. Rock avalanche deposits in Westland have relatively short expected lifetimes in the rugged terrain and high rainfall of the area; hence, the hazard from such events is under-represented by their current remnants.

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Acknowledgments

We thank John Sullivan, landowner, for the access and advice and for the Matai sample and digger; Mason Trust, University of Canterbury for funding for GGC; Andrew Wells of Hawea for dendrochronological expertise and assistance; and Sandy Hammond of Lincoln University for laboratory facilities and assistance. This research was supported by the New Zealand Foundation for Research, Science and Technology, through the Public Good Science Fund.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Guillaume Chevalier & Tim Davies

  2. GNS Science, P.O. Box 30368, Lower Hutt, New Zealand

    Mauri McSaveney

Authors
  1. Guillaume Chevalier
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  2. Tim Davies
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  3. Mauri McSaveney
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Correspondence to Tim Davies.

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Chevalier, G., Davies, T. & McSaveney, M. The prehistoric Mt Wilberg rock avalanche, Westland, New Zealand. Landslides 6, 253–262 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10346-009-0156-5

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