Profiles of Near‐Surface Rock Mass Strength Across Gradients in Burial, Erosion, and Time

Rock mass strength is recognized as an important control on landscape morphology and evolution. However, the controls on rock strength in mountainous topography remain poorly characterized, in part because strength remains challenging to quantify at spatial scales relevant to geomorphology. Here we quantify the mechanical properties of rock masses using subsurface S‐wave velocities, Schmidt hammer hardness values, and Geological Strength Index (GSI) observations. We produce shallow depth profiles of rock mass shear strength using intact rock hardness as measured from a Schmidt hammer, and assessment of the structure and surface conditions of fractures using GSI. We apply these techniques to the Western Transverse Ranges, southern California, USA, where gradients in stratigraphic age and erosion rate allow us to evaluate our methodology. We resolve strength differences of 200 kPa to ∼5 MPa that appear to be related to diagenetic changes associated with the maximum burial depth of young clastic sedimentary rocks. For rocks of the same lithologic type, stratigraphic age, and inferred burial histories, we resolve smaller differences in strength (300 kPa–1.5 MPa) that appear to be positively correlated with mean erosion rates. We suggest that the increase in strength with increasing erosion rate reflects decreased residence time in the weathering zone for ranges experiencing faster fault slip rates. These findings demonstrate up to an order of magnitude variability in strength with respect to burial, erosion, and time for lithologically similar rocks. As such, lithology alone is unlikely to adequately capture the role of rock strength in landscape evolution. We present a novel approach to quantify near‐surface rock mass strength on depth profiles from surface and subsurface measurementsThe rock mass strength of sandstone units increases with increasing maximum burial depth prior to exhumationRock strength and erosion rate are positively correlated, which we suggest is driven by critical zone residence time and weathering extent We present a novel approach to quantify near‐surface rock mass strength on depth profiles from surface and subsurface measurements The rock mass strength of sandstone units increases with increasing maximum burial depth prior to exhumation Rock strength and erosion rate are positively correlated, which we suggest is driven by critical zone residence time and weathering extent