---
title: "Parts of a landslide"
subject: "Engineering Geology II"
chapter: 5
key: "semester_4/engineering_geology_ii:landslide-parts-diagram"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/landslide-parts-diagram
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Parts of a landslide

Engineering Geology II · Chapter 5: Geological Hazards

- Asked in: 2073 Bhadra, 2 marks
- Video: [ENGINEERING GEOLOGY 1 10 UNIT 1 LANDSLIDES- basic information](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3RQvsLsyCg) — Dr SUBBARAO GANGISETTY
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/landslide-parts-diagram
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_4/engineering_geology_ii/chapter-5

## Question

Describe the parts of a landslide with a labelled diagram.

## Short answer

Key parts: crown (undisturbed above main scarp), main scarp, head, body on the rupture surface, foot, toe at lowest edge. Tension cracks at crown, flanks on sides.

## Answer

A landslide has the following parts.

```text
   crown   main scarp
     |  _______
     | /   head \ 
 ----+/  ___      \ minor scarp
        /   \ body  \
       / slip surface\
      /  (rupture)    \
     /_______ foot_____\ toe
                 deposit  ~~~ river
```

- **Crown:** undisturbed material above the main scarp.
- **Main scarp:** steep surface at the upper edge of the slide, caused by movement of the mass away from stable ground.
- **Minor scarp:** secondary steps within the moved mass.
- **Head:** upper part of the moved mass, along the contact with the main scarp.
- **Body (main body):** the displaced material lying on the rupture surface.
- **Surface of rupture (slip surface):** the surface along which sliding takes place.
- **Foot:** the moved mass beyond the toe of the rupture surface.
- **Toe:** the lowest edge of the displaced mass, farthest from the main scarp.
- **Flanks:** the sides of the slide.
- **Tension cracks** at the crown; **transverse cracks** and **pressure ridges** in the body and toe.

## Check yourself

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

1. What is the main scarp?
   A. Steep surface at the upper edge of the slide where the mass moved away from stable ground
   B. Lowest edge of the displaced mass
   C. The sides of the slide
   D. The surface on which sliding takes place
   Answer: A. The main scarp lies at the top, below the crown. (Key point: Main scarp)

2. What is the toe of a landslide?
   A. Upper part of moved mass along the scarp
   B. Lowest edge of the displaced mass, farthest from the main scarp
   C. Undisturbed material above the scarp
   D. The sides of the slide
   Answer: B. The toe is the lower margin of the displaced mass. (Key point: Toe)

3. What is the surface of rupture?
   A. The deposit beyond the toe
   B. A secondary step in the moved mass
   C. The surface along which sliding takes place
   D. The undisturbed ground above the scarp
   Answer: C. It is the slip surface beneath the body. (Key point: Surface of rupture)

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