Unstable ground at Jerome, Arizona

The old mining town of Jerome is build (perched) on the steep slopes of Cleopatra Hill above the Verde Valley in central Arizona. Copper mining was the major industry here through the first half of the 20th century. Unstable ground is a common hazard on steep hill slopes. This picture illustrates one such place in a parking lot in downtown Jerome. Mitigation efforts, i.e., draining the slope and not building on the unstable ground, are underway. The Arizona Dept of Transportation use geotechnical sensors to monitor micro movement in the surrounding hillside adjacent to the road.