Name: Cherid M.
Pariñal These are weak zones and mountain streams
Grade & Section: 11 STEM – A
Subject Teacher: Mrs. Doreen G. Ollanas
MASS WASTING
b) Creep. A slow, gradual movement of soil or regolith
Q: What is Mass Wasting?
A: Mass wasting is a natural result of weathering on
slopes. Simply put, gravity pulls loose rock and soil
downhill. Mass wasting is the process of erosion
whereby rock, soil, and other earth materials move
down a slope because of gravitational forces. It
proceeds at variable rates of speed and is largely
dependent on the water saturation levels and the
steepness of the terrain. Mass wasting is the downhill
movement of rock and soil material due to gravity.
c) Slump. Earth material that has moved as a unit
Q: Give examples/types of mass wasting (at least 5).
A: Some types of mass wasting are as follows:
a) Rockfalls and Rockslides. A slide – can be
defined as a descending rock mass remaining
more or less solid and moving along a definite
surface. A rock slide occurs when there is a rapid
sliding of a mass of bed rock along a slanted
d) Mudflow. A mudflow is a liquidly mass of soil, rock
surface which is weak or faulty. This type of
mass wasting occur when pieces of rock break
loose from a steep rock face or cliff due to
various weathering agents like wind and water.
These forces gradually cut the rocks for
hundreds of years lodging them off their base
due to undercutting. Eventually the rock is
dislodged.
Rockslides usually follow a zone of weakness,
such as a bedding plane or foliation plane which
is composed of layers of metamorphic rock.
flowing through these areas continuously erode
the rock surface by slippage reducing rock
strength. Any impact or force in these areas
cause break in the rock mass into rubble. This is
also known as rock avalanche.
downhill over time is called creep. Velocities are
typically less than a centimeter per year. Freezing
and thawing contribute to soil creep by
progressively moving soil particles down the hill.
Creep is manifested at the surface by such things
as tilted utility poles that become more out of
alignment every year. Vegetation helps reduce the
rate of soil creep.
along a curved surface is called slump. A slumped
mass of sediment is typically clay rich. Slump
usually results when the geometrical stability of a
slope is compromised by the undercutting of its
base, such as by wave action, a meandering river,
or construction.
debris, and water that moves quickly down a well‐
defined channel. Generally viscous and muddy
colored, it can be powerful enough to move large
automobiles and buildings. Mudflows occur most
often in mountainous semiarid environments with
sparse vegetation and are triggered by heavy
rainfall that saturates the loose soil and sediment.
They are also the natural result of volcanic ash
build‐ups on flanks of volcanoes and of forest fires
that have exposed the soil to rapid erosion. A
 mudflow originating on a volcanic slope is called a
lahar.

e) Debris flows. Debris flows are defined as mass‐

wasting events in which turbulence occurs
throughout the mass. Slope material that becomes
saturated with water may develop into a debris flow
or mud flow. The resulting slurry of rock and mud
may pick up trees, houses and cars, thus blocking
bridges and tributaries causing flooding along its
path. They are most common in alpine areas and
cause severe damage to structures and often claim
human lives. This flow of mud can be initiated by
slope movement or shallow landslides. The
resulting effect often blocks streams causing
temporary floods.