Paola Battagliarini Jun 12, 2013:

Hi, as a geologist, I would say that both answers are correct: Jim's proposal describes more precisely the phenomena that are taking place, (the text says: "frane in differente stadio evolutivo, da attive a quiescenti": if they are active, they are happening today) but undoubtedly landslips and landslides are driven by gravity, so it seems to me that "gravity-driven" is a more general way to describe the phenomenon. In any case, the materials involved here are "depositi flyschioidi a prevalente composizione argillosa e marnoso-argillosa" so they are shaly formations, probably not coherent, and I don't know if "rock" would be an adequate term to describe them

cynthiatesser Jun 12, 2013:

I do not think that's the kind of problems they're discussing here, the asker stated that the text is about rock formations.

James (Jim) Davis Jun 12, 2013:

Frane slow "Frane" can include landslide, which is the one you see in films, landslip which is slow and includes creep. Often land has been slipping sometimes at a rate of even just centimetres per year before you a catastrophic landslide occurs. These problems are very serious in Italy with all its mountains and steep hills and rain.

https://www.google.com/search?source=ig&rlz=&q="creep" lands...

cynthiatesser Jun 12, 2013:

As I see it, "landslip and landslide" would better correspond to "smottamenti e frane", which is something sudden that may even happen today. The text is about prehistory and it is probably describing slow movements of land, driven by gravity in the course of time.

James (Jim) Davis Jun 12, 2013:

A more accurate Google Yes but if you limit it to UK sites only you only get three and one is co-authored by an Italian. Which confirms what I have found over many years of translating this term.
"gravity-driven phenomena" geology site:uk
Also "che, dal crinale dei rilievi, hanno interessato i versanti fino al fondovalle, movimentando i litotipi presenti per spessori localmente elevati." This clearly describes landslip and landslide.

cynthiatesser Jun 12, 2013:

If you search "gravity-driven phenomena" and "geology" on Google you will get 44,000 results

Marco Solinas (asker) Jun 12, 2013:

Driven You are right. I did mean "gravity-driven." thank you.

cynthiatesser Jun 12, 2013:

gravity-driven phenomena Thank you for asking me to propose an answer. Il will suggest "gravity-driven phenomena" as appears in my reference, if you agree. I am not sure that "gravity-like" is appropriate because it is actually gravity that drives the materials, not something like gravity

Marco Solinas (asker) Jun 12, 2013:

To: Cynthia I would like to enter "gravity-like phenomena" (as suggested by your references) into the glossary because it is the best solution in this case, but I cannot, because you have not proposed an answer. If you do, I can select your answer. Thank you.

Marco Solinas (asker) Jun 11, 2013:

I suppose that a typo is possible I think the context suggests landslide phenomena. here is the next sentence: "Nelle aree di indagine è possibile, infatti, verificare la presenza di morfologie di versante riferibili a frane in differente stadio evolutivo, da attive a quiescenti, e a paleofrane ormai stabilizzate."

I would stay away from "gravitational," but "gravity phenomena" could be an option. Any geologists out there?

cynthiatesser Jun 11, 2013:

Or "gravitative phenomena"

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/gravitative

cynthiatesser Jun 11, 2013:

Couldn't it be "gravitativi" (gravitational)?

philgoddard Jun 11, 2013:

Gravitational effects?