Analysis on differential weathering characters of high cutting slope in Three Gorge Reservoir

Lots of collapse of high cutting slopes are formed during the construction of the buildings for the millions immigrants from the region of Three Gorge Reservoir, which are threatening to the safety of the immigrants greatly because of the differential weathering of mudstones. The microstructures of rock are studied by measures of SEM and X diffraction in order to study the differential weathering of the high cutting slope. The mechanism of the differential weathering is elaborated from the test results and analyses of the clay mineral ingredients, cements and rock structures of representative samples. The explanations of differential weathering, is put out, which founds a geological and scientific foundation for the prevention of reservoir collapse of high cutting slopes.