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Note:This page contains AI-generated content for informational and entertainment purposes only. It may contain inaccuracies. Raw event data is from USGS and EMSC. All statistics, lists, and derived information are generated by this site. Full disclaimerFound an error?
Location:
23 km NW of Benton, California
Period:
13 Dec 2004 13:26:15 - 28 Dec 2004 21:20:10 (15 days 7 hours 53 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Mono Lake Volcanic Field(31km), Mono-Inyo Craters(36km), Mammoth Mountain(50km)
Earthquakes:
237
16 swarms found nearby.
2001
S20010308.1(28.9km)
7 Mar
2 days 6 hours
47 earthquakes
20 Mar
6 days 14 hours
96 earthquakes
2004
S20040918.1(19.1km)
17 Sep
67 days 17 hours
4783 earthquakes
2006
S20060505.1(26.3km)
5 May
1 day 14 hours
30 earthquakes
2008
15 Jan
2 days 10 hours
50 earthquakes
1 Feb
2 days 6 hours
54 earthquakes
2009
30 Aug
2 days 4 hours
34 earthquakes
2015
S20150505.1(15.4km)
4 May
2 days 22 hours
111 earthquakes
S20150510.1(14.1km)
9 May
2 days 3 hours
35 earthquakes
2017
15 Oct
16 hours
26 earthquakes
19 Oct
2 days 13 hours
33 earthquakes
2018
S20180207.1(29.2km)
7 Feb
2 days 14 hours
56 earthquakes
S20181207.1(20.2km)
7 Dec
1 day 2 hours
33 earthquakes
S20181217.1(20.1km)
17 Dec
2 days 9 hours
44 earthquakes
2020
S20200411.1(11.2km)
11 Apr
33 days 8 hours
1019 earthquakes
2021
S20210115.1(13.5km)
15 Jan
1 day 14 hours
89 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20041214.1: Analysis of Activity Near Benton, California

The seismic swarm designated S20041214.1 occurred approximately 23 km northwest of Benton, California, in Mono County. This region forms part of the western Basin and Range Province, where extensional tectonics drive normal faulting along range-front systems such as the White Mountains fault zone. The area also experiences distributed deformation linked to the broader Walker Lane belt and proximity to the Long Valley Caldera volcanic system, which has produced episodic earthquake swarms due to both tectonic and magmatic influences. The swarm initiated at 13:26 on 13 December 2004 and concluded at 21:20 on 28 December 2004, spanning 367 hours and 53 minutes. During this interval, 237 earthquakes were recorded. Analysis of the first 100 events reveals predominantly low-magnitude activity, with values ranging from 0.4 to 3.1. Depths clustered between 0 and 13 km, consistent with shallow crustal faulting in the region. Two events reached magnitude 3.1, occurring on 14 December at 08:22 and 18 December at 06:20. The sequence displayed typical swarm characteristics: a gradual onset, multiple similar-magnitude events without a dominant mainshock, and fluctuating rates over the initial days. Historical records since 1 January 2000 indicate three swarms in total within the monitored area. Prior activity included two swarms in 2001 and one in 2004. These episodes underscore the recurrent nature of clustered seismicity northwest of Benton, often tied to regional fault networks accommodating Basin and Range extension. Such swarms provide valuable data on fault behavior and stress conditions in tectonically active zones. Continued monitoring supports improved understanding of seismic hazards in eastern California, where low-level events frequently precede or accompany larger tectonic releases.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm classification database.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program regional reports on Mono County, California.
California Geological Survey Basin and Range Province overview.