Geomechanical behavior evolution of the rock mass involved in the Arteara rock avalanche, Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

In Arteara (Canary Island), a Holocene rock avalanche comprises accumulation of large reddish blocks which cover the Fataga ravine. This course, is entrenched into Phonolitic Formation, an alternating sequence lava flows and ignimbrites. The defines elongated deposit variable thickness. A low friction angle was deduced, related to easily weathered bedrock favorable rolling blocks. movement would have been dry granular flow with component saltation at head turbulent intermediate distal areas. varies widely in size structured bands polymodal distribution selection. geomechanical properties rocks involved vary substantially each block along longitudinal profile deposit. Schmidt Hammer rebound measured 233 show dispersion. Some facies differentiated blocks, not only by their appearance, but also index (R). different hardness reflects differences density porosity. zoning shows differential weathering depends on anisotropy turbulence, determines influence abrasion punching direct correlation bulk inverse distance source area.