Quake swarm in Nevada

Seismologists monitor Carson City quake swarm

Potential to result in major quake

Las Vegas Sun,

23 June, 2013

Nevada seismologists and emergency managers say they're monitoring an earthquake swarm in Carson City that has the potential to result in a major temblor.

But officials from the Nevada Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno, stress they can't predict how the sequence of over 120 minor quakes that began June 1 will play out or if it will result in larger events.

The largest quakes of the swarm have been one of magnitude-2.9 on June 5 and two of magnitude-2.8 on Thursday and June 16. While each has been followed by many smaller quakes, no injuries or major damage have been reported.

UNR seismologists say based on past seismic activity in the region, the probability of larger quakes increases as sequences progress.

They say the swarm is of concern because it may be associated with the Genoa Fault Zone, which is capable of producing major quakes of magnitude-7 or more.

Nevada is the third most seismically active state in the nation behind California and Alaska.