Quelques caractéristiques géotechniques des dépôts d'argile de la baie James: les coulées d'argile de Fort Rupert, Québec

The marine and lacustrine clay deposits of the James Bay area in Northwestern Quebec are described as a function of their origin, modes of deposition, and identifying characteristics. The stratigraphic and geotechnical parameters of the Fort Rupert marine clays are given in view of elaborating on case histories of regional slides. Based on these parameters and on the results of a laboratory experiment on four samples, the effect of pore pressure buildup on the triggering of a slide and on the progressive development of failure is described.