Nevada rattled by earthquake swarm where the ground is SPLITTING apart

"NASA explained: 'The Earth's crust in the Basin and Range Province is gradually expanding, cracking into hundreds of faults as it thins. 'Over millions of years, land on one side of the faults rose, forming mountains, while land on the other sank into basins. 'This ongoing activity makes the Basin and Range one of the most seismically active regions in the U.S.'"

"The earthquakes were shallow, averaging about five miles below the surface. Shallow quakes pose a greater risk of strong shaking than deeper tremors, as the energy from the earthquake reaches the surface more directly. An assessment from Michigan Tech University showed that people typically do not feel quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less. Those from 2.5 to 5.4 are often felt but only cause minor damage. However, the region is sparsely populated, and no reports of shaking have been submitted to the USGS."

Seven earthquakes struck Nevada over a five-hour period, the largest a 3.6-magnitude tremor at 5:44am ET centered near Valmy. The epicenter lies along several active faults including the Fairview Peak-Dixie Valley Fault Scarps, the Central Nevada Seismic Belt, and the Pleasant Valley Fault, which can produce quakes up to magnitude 7.7. The swarm was likely driven by tectonic extension in the Basin and Range Province as the crust thins and fractures. The quakes were shallow, averaging about five miles deep, increasing surface shaking risk. The sparsely populated area reported no felt shaking. Mining near Valmy involves excavation, blasting, and fluid management that can alter underground stresses and occasionally trigger fault movement.

Read at Mail Online