ABSTRACT
In 1995 during the Great Hanshin earthquake, reclaimed areas filled with masado underwent major liquefaction damage. Since this earthquake event, Masado, decomposed granite has been recognized as a material susceptible to liquefaction and many tests have been performed to establish the conditions under which it would liquefy. In addition to the igneous decomposed granites, Japan also has large areas covered by crushable volcanic ash sediments. These are particularly predominant in the south of Kyushu, particularly in Kagoshima prefecture where they are known as Shirasu. These ash deposits are frequently exposed as soft rock escarpments which are mined for use in reclaimed land fill. It is frequently pumped from inland locations as slurry to form a loose saturated fill.
