A marine geologist with Natural Resources Canada, Steve Blasco, wondered why the wreck of the Titanic did not sink completely into the ocean sediments at its resting place 4 km below the surface. Mr. Blasco used core samples of the sea floor at the site to determine that the Titanic now sits on a million year old marine landslide deposit. Presumably this deposit is stiffer than other types of marine sediments. Mr. Blasco has studied a number of other scientific aspects of the Titanic wreckage, including the bacteria that is causing the formation of ‘rusticles’ and will one day completely dissolve the vessel. His group has also found numerous life forms in the oxygen-deprived depths, and a discovery that the steel used in the construction of the hull was brittle because of high sulfur content steel, and the rivets were high in slag. [Source: Castanet.net. Image: destinosdeviagem.com]
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Judge Rules City of San Diego Not Responsible for Mt. Soledad Landslide in 2007
The Mt. Soledad Landslide in a La Jolla California neighborhood destroyed 3 houses and damaged others and it also shut down Mt. Soledad Road for an entire year after it occurred in October of 2007. Residents blamed the city of San Diego, and 65 homeowners filed suit, claiming that leaking pipes caused the landslide and the City should cover damages.
Last week, a superior court judge ruled in favor of the City of San Diego. So far I have not seen anything indicating if the residents plan to appeal the ruling.
One interesting note regarding the trial, the City released an 8-minute cell phone video taken by a geotechnical engineer or drilling contractor employed by the City that showed the road cracking and buckling just prior to failure. The homeowners used the video to try to make their own case. Click through for a portion of the video and a link to the full one.