Cliff. A vertical or near-vertical rock face; sometimes not solid rock.

Talus. A deposit of large broken fragments of rock, usually at the base of a cliff or on steep slopes.

Talus Slope. A large pile of talus, sometimes forming the side of a mountain. In photo, yellow lines delineate four talus cones that coalesce to form a talus slope.

Photo: Northshore Peak, Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Talus can be natural or man made. Here talus is spilling down a gully below a mine.

Photo: Tramp Mine, Gold Butte National Monument.