An investigation of the relationship of the physical properties of fine-grained sediments to land subsidence in Las Vegas Valley, Nevada

Abstract

The response of a complex of valley fill sediments to loading imposed by artesian head decline is in large part controlled by the compressibility of the fine-grained sediments. To evaluate this geological parameter a correlation of the bulk modulus of compression with the liquid limit was developed. An evaluation of the compressibility of fine-grained sediments from Las Vegas Valley, Nevada, indicates a definite west to east trend of increasing compressibility and an area of maximum compressibility toward the eastern part of the city of Las Vegas, in the east central portion of the valley, which can be attributed to the depositional history of the sediments.