Contributing Factors
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• Structure of Turtle Mountain.
–Anticline structure, joint pattern, thrusting, steep  bedding planes
•Heavy precipitation year prior to slide.
•Freeze/Thaw cycles.
•Active coal mining at base of slide.
•Karstification
•Natural and Induced Microseismicity
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After the Frank Slide numerous studies were undertaken in order to determine the causes and contributing factors for the slide.  The overwhelming reason why the slide occurred was the unstable structure of the mountain.  It was considered that the mountain was likely at a very tenuous state of stability and a number of factors contributed to the timing of the slide, as listed above.