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Science 3 February 1967:
Vol. 155. no. 3762, pp. 560 - 562
DOI: 10.1126/science.155.3762.560
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Articles

Rates of Surficial Rock Creep on Hillslopes in Western Colorado

S. A. Schumm 1

1 U.S. Geological Survey, Federal Center, Denver, Colorado

The average rate of downslope movement of rock fragments on shale hillslopes is directly proportional to the sine of the slope angle or that component of the gravitational force which acts parallel to the hillslope. The rates of surficial rock creep range from a few millimeters per year on a 3degree slope to almost 70 millimeters per year on a 40-degree slope, but these rates vary with natural variations in soil characteristics and microclimate, as well as with accidental disturbances.

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Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)