Laboratory test results from specimens of regolith obtained from landslide-prone terrain in Puerto Rico

This data release provides results from laboratory testing of 49 regolith specimens obtained from landslide-prone terrain in Puerto Rico, USA. Specimens were obtained by hand either from the ground surface or from the subsurface using boreholes and hand-excavated pits to a maximum depth of 110 cm. Specimen depths are reliably indicated in the file “Tests-performed.csv” and less reliably on laboratory test result documents; cross referencing for the laboratory results is provided in the Tests-performed.csv file. Depths indicated were at the approximate center of the sample taken, which spanned six inches (~15 cm), at most. Some borehole specimens were obtained in the relatively undisturbed condition, using geotechnical vernacular, using 2.0-inch-diameter by 6.0-inch-long (~5.08-cm diameter by ~15.24-cm long) stainless steel cylinders inside a sampler hand driven into the bottoms of boreholes as they were advanced. These specimens were tested for effective and total porosity (ASTM D6836m; ASTM standards given herein are from ASTM International, 2008, or updated versions; Ne in Tests-performed.csv), moisture and density (ASTM D7263b; MD in Tests-performed.csv), and saturated hydraulic conductivity (ASTM D5084; Ks in Tests-performed.csv), while these specimens and disturbed specimens taken by hand excavation may also have been tested for specific gravity (ASTM D854; Gs in Tests-performed.csv), Atterberg limits (ASTM D4318; PI in Tests-performed.csv), and grain size distribution (ASTM D422; GSD in Tests-performed.csv). Laboratory testing was performed by a contract laboratory in general accordance with ASTM Standards and results are provided as received from the laboratory. Result files are named by site(s) followed by the name of the test. Approximate sample locations as measured by mobile phones are provided in Tests-performed.csv.

Acknowledgements
We thank Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, Para la Naturaleza land conservancy organization, Naranjito Municipio, University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez, Hacienda Masini, Finca Guaraguao, Barrio Cubuy de Naguabo, U.S. Geological Survey San Juan Geomagnetic Observatory, Hacienda Aceitunas, and many private landowners for allowing us to perform sampling on their properties or property that they manage. Peter Jacke and Benchmark Geolabs are thanked for helpful discussions and recommendations regarding laboratory testing, as well as for performing tests. Felix Rivera, Kiara Cunillera, Bianca Mendez, Desiree Bayouth, Jonathan Perez, Victor Ortega, Cesar Rodriguez, Estefania Vicens, Ednet Lopez, Gabriel Colon, and Anthony Collazo are thanked for assistance in the field.

Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

References
ASTM International, 2008, Annual Book of ASTM Standards, vol. 04.08, Soil and Rock, I: ASTM International, West Conshohocken, Pa.