---
title: "Define mass movement and its classification"
subject: "Engineering Geology I"
chapter: 6
key: "semester_3/engineering_geology_i:define-mass-movement-and-its"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/define-mass-movement-and-its
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Define mass movement and its classification

Engineering Geology I · Chapter 6: Physical Geology

- Asked in: 2066 Jestha (old course), 3+5 marks; 2066 Bhadra (old course), 3 marks; 2063 Baisakh (old course), 2 marks; 2064 Jestha (old course), 5 marks; 2059 Chaitra (old course), 3 marks (asked 5 times)
- Video: [Mass Movement: Everything you need to know!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA0ay24v5kc) — 5 Minute Geography
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/define-mass-movement-and-its
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_3/engineering_geology_i/chapter-6

## Question

Define mass movement. Describe its types (classification system of mass movement by Varnes).

## Short answer

Mass movement is the downslope movement of soil, rock or debris under gravity alone. Varnes classifies it by movement type (fall, topple, slide, spread, flow, complex) and material (rock, debris, earth).

## Answer

**Mass movement** is the downslope movement of soil, rock or debris under gravity, without a flowing medium like a river or glacier carrying it.

**Varnes classification (1978)** is based on the type of movement and the material (rock, debris, earth):

| Movement | Rock | Soil (debris / earth) |
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Rock fall | Debris fall, earth fall |
| Topple | Rock topple | Debris / earth topple |
| Slide: rotational | Rock slump | Slump |
| Slide: translational | Planar / wedge slide, block slide | Debris slide, earth slide |
| Lateral spread | Rock spread | Earth spread |
| Flow | Rock avalanche | Debris flow, earth flow, mud flow, creep |
| Complex | Combination of two or more types | |

- **Fall:** free fall of detached blocks from a steep face.
- **Topple:** forward rotation of a block about a lower point.
- **Slide:** movement along one or more slip surfaces (rotational or translational).
- **Spread:** extension of a soil or rock mass above a softer layer.
- **Flow:** the mass moves like a viscous fluid, often water-saturated.
- **Creep:** very slow, continuous movement.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. How is mass movement defined?
   A. Downslope movement of soil, rock or debris under gravity without a flowing carrier medium
   B. Transport of soil by rivers
   C. Movement of ice sheets
   D. Wind blowing of sand
   Answer: A. Gravity drives the movement; no river or glacier carries it. (Key point: Definition)

2. What two things does Varnes classification (1978) use?
   A. Age and colour of rock
   B. Type of movement and type of material
   C. Slope angle and rainfall
   D. Depth and temperature
   Answer: B. It is a table of movement type versus material (rock, debris, earth). (Key point: Varnes basis)

3. Which description matches a topple?
   A. Free fall of detached blocks
   B. Movement along a slip surface
   C. Forward rotation of a block about a lower point
   D. Very slow continuous movement
   Answer: C. A topple is forward rotation; a fall is free fall; a slide uses slip surfaces. (Key point: Fall vs topple)

4. Which statement is correct?
   A. Creep is a rapid free fall
   B. Flow occurs along a single planar slip surface only
   C. Spread is a flow of water in rivers
   D. Flow moves like a viscous fluid, often saturated; creep is very slow and continuous
   Answer: D. Flows behave as viscous fluids; creep is very slow movement. (Key point: Flow and creep)

5. What are the two kinds of slide?
   A. Rotational and translational
   B. Rock and soil
   C. Fall and topple
   D. Spread and flow
   Answer: A. Rotational slides are slumps; translational slides include planar, wedge and block slides. (Key point: Slides)

## Related in Engineering Geology I

- [Rock mass classification](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Arock-mass-classification) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 5
- [Rock mass classification and discontinuities](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Arock-mass-classification-and-discontinuities) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 5
- [All mass movements are landslides](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Aall-mass-movements-are-landslides) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 6
- [RMR system and its parameters](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_3%2Fengineering_geology_i%3Armr-system-and-its-parameters) — Engineering Geology I, chapter 5, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Varnes classification of landslides](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Avarnes-classification) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5, asked 14×
- [Q-system of rock mass classification](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Aq-system-classification) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 6, asked 7×
- [Mass movement and its mechanism](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Amass-movement-mechanism) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5, asked 11×
- [Factors of mass movement](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_4%2Fengineering_geology_ii%3Afactors-of-movement) — Engineering Geology II, chapter 5