What type of mass movement involves a sudden release of a large amount of rock and soil?

A landslide is characterized by the rapid and often sudden movement of a large volume of rock and soil down a slope. This type of mass movement occurs when the forces acting on the slope, such as gravity, exceed the strength of the materials making up the slope, leading to a failure and the quick descent of that material.

Landslides can be triggered by various factors including heavy rainfall, earthquakes, volcanic activity, or human activities such as construction or mining. The speed and volume involved in landslides can make them particularly dangerous, as they often occur unexpectedly and can impact life, property, and infrastructure.

In contrast, debris flow refers to a mixture of water and rock that moves more fluidly, while slumping involves a rotational movement of earth material, generally occurring over a more gradual time frame. Creeping is a very slow movement of soil or rock that happens over long periods of time.