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GEOGRAPHY LAB: MASS WASTING
THE FRANK, ALBERTA DISASTER 1903
1. TOPOGRAPHIC MAP
Using the topographic map provided, construct a profile from the South Peak to the
eastern most point of the debris flow.
 Use a vertical scale of 1cm to represent 200 ft. of elevation
 Extend your vertical scale from 3700’ to 7200’
 On the profile include a title, vertical & horizontal scales, vertical exaggeration
 LABEL the South Peak, Crows Nest River, the limit of the rock debris, rock fall
zone
 DRAW on appropriate arrows to represent the force of gravity, normal force,
and shear force which were acting upon the mountain side at the time of the
disaster.
2. BLOCK DIAGRAM
On the block diagram of Turtle Mountain label the following:
 South Peak & North Peak
 CPR Track
 Turtle Mountain, limestone strata
Label & shade the extent of the following features:
 Town of Frank, Alberta (pink)
 Crows Nest River (blue)
 Extent of the rock debris (brown)
 Rock fall zone (yellow)
 Coal seam (black)
 Limestone bedrock (gray)
3. ANALYSIS OF THE DISASTER
a) According to the classification of the types of mass wasting was the Frank
Disaster a ‘rock flow’, a ‘rock slide’, or a ‘rock fall’? Explain your answer by
referring to the rate of movement, type of material, and type of movement
which occurred
b) State and explain in your own words, the factors (both natural and human)
which contributed to this mass wasting event. Be sure to use the terminology
learned regarding physical & chemical weathering in your answer.
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Use the following website to answer questions c & d.
http://www.ags.gov.ab.ca/geohazards/turtle_mountain/sensor_network.html
c) State the five types of sensors used to monitor Turtle Mountain by the Alberta
Geological Society.
d) Briefly explain, in your own words, the purpose of each sensor.
RESOURCES:
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Handout “The Frank Slide: The Mountain That Walked”
Text & notes on weathering & mass wasting
Class Website – links to videos watched in class and Turtle Mountain Monitoring
System (see Physical Geography Links – bottom of page)