Botanical and geotechnical characteristics of blanket peat at three Irish bogflows

The potential importance of botanical controls on the properties and behaviour blanket peat involved in landslides was identified almost twenty years ago. During 2010–2012, investigations at three bogflows north-west Ireland were done with aim establishing some form relationship between or palaeoecological characteristics standard physical geotechnical properties, assuming latter to be meaningful but recognising that this may not case. In situ measurements all sites followed by extensive laboratory characterisation small core, block monolith samples. composition could fully determined due high degree decomposition. However, analysis macrofossils allowed distinct depth-related patterns several key indicators determined. particular, monocotyledon fragments, dominated Eriophorum vaginatum, showed potentially useful distributions throughout profiles. Overall results basal one site discernibly different from other two sites, having fewer monocotyledons, fibres, higher dry bulk density saturated hydraulic conductivity. This approach therefore offers a basis for developing means assessing mass auger