Differential settling of a historic home into soft soil in the harbor

area of Boston (photographed by Bill Niemann, 2006).

 The destabilizing effect that differential weathering can have on cut slopes is clearly illustrated

 in this picture of a highway roadcut near Huntington, West Virginia.  The underlying shale

 layer has been weathered away through a mechanical process called slaking and undercut the

 overhanging sandstone ledge, causing a rock fall (photographed by Bill Niemann, 2007).