A 4.0 magnitude earthquake hit Nevada on Wednesday, sending tremors through the region.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the quake at 5:35 am local time near Valmy, a small town situated in a seismically active area.
The earthquake occurred in the Basin and Range Province, a region spanning much of the western US where the Earth’s crust is gradually being pulled apart, causing faulting and frequent earthquakes.
According to the USGS, there is a 31% chance of a 3.0 magnitude or higher aftershock in the next week and a 6% chance of another 4.0 magnitude or higher tremor.
Nevada is the third-most seismically active state in the nation, after California and Alaska.
The region’s active fault lines, including the Fairview Peak-Dixie Valley Fault Scarps and the Central Nevada Seismic Belt, contribute to the state’s earthquake activity. The Pleasant Valley fault near Valmy is capable of producing a quake up to a 7.7 magnitude.
Although Wednesday’s earthquake was strong enough to shake buildings, the sparsely populated area around Valmy limited the impact.
The USGS received only two reports of shaking.
Experts note that earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or less are typically not felt, while those between 2.5 and 5.4 often cause minor damage.
Valmy is home to significant gold-producing mines, including the Twin Creeks Mine and Turquoise Ridge Mine.
Mining operations in the region can alter the stress distribution in the Earth’s crust, potentially inducing seismic events or earthquake swarms.
This recent earthquake follows a swarm of four earthquakes in Valmy in March, with the largest reaching a 4.0 magnitude.
In February, a 2.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Area 51, a military facility surrounded by conspiracy theories.
A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook northern Nevada on December 9, 2024, highlighting the state’s ongoing seismic activity.
