ABSTRACT
The stability of rock slopes is often significantly influenced by the structural geology of the rock in which the slope is excavated. Almost all rock slope stability studies should address the structural geology of the site, and such studies involve two steps as follows. First, determine the properties of the discontinuities, which involve mapping outcrops and existing cuts, and examining diamond drill core, as appropriate for the site conditions. Second, determine the influence of the discontinuities on stability, which involves studying the relationship between the orientation of the discontinuity and the face. The chapter describes the properties of discontinuities and how they are used in kinematic analysis. Having determined from the daylight envelopes whether a block in the slope is kinematically permissible, it is also possible to examine stability conditions on the same stereonet. The direction of sliding of kinematically permissible wedges is less restrictive than that of plane failures because there are various planes to form release surfaces.
