ROAD SALT INTERACTIONS WITH MUDSTONES AND HILLSLOPE STABILITY

Landslides pose a substantial threat to human lives and infrastructure, resulting in economic and human losses worldwide. The weathering of rock materials plays a crucial role in landslide occurrence, and human activities can accelerate this weathering. While the impact of salt on built infrastructure is well-documented (e.g., corrosion), its effects on natural bedrock and slope stability are not fully understood. This study evaluates the effects of increased salinity on exchange chemistry in materials collected from regionally-important, failure-prone strata in southwestern Pennsylvania. In particular, measurements of mudstone illite concentrations revealed a gradient in illite content along a north-south axis in Southwest Pennsylvania. Additionally, the liquid limit of these samples is associated with the percentage of 2:1 clay minerals in these samples. Continued work examines the impacts of pore water salt content on soil properties. With the widespread use of salt as a deicing agent in the United States, salt-rock interactions have increased and likely have unforeseen consequences. This project explores the implications of salt-rock interactions on hillslope sediment properties and provides clarity vital for comprehensive landslide management.