The Use of X-ray to Investigate Clay Shale Within a Landslide

ABSTRACT: X-ray computer tomography is a powerful non-destructive analysis tool used since the early 1970’s to observe internal structures of objects based on variations in density and atomic composition. Initial CT applications occurred primarily within the medical industry. More recently, CT has gained popularity in the geoscience community due to greater availability and affordability of scanners, particularly medical grade and desktop scanners capable of micro CT imaging. Within the geosciences, however, CT remains under utilized as a core analysis tool for slope stability. This paper reviews potential geoscience applications of CT techniques, explores reasons for under-utilization of CT technology and assesses its overall validity as an analysis tool for slope stability purposes by presenting a case study of an active slow-moving landslide in the Assiniboine River Valley affecting Canadian National Railway’s Mainline.