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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:
46 km ESE of Beatty, Nevada
Period:
14 May 2008 06:56:48 - 20 May 2008 10:49:48 (6 days 3 hours 53 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
None
Earthquakes:
70
48 swarms found nearby.
2000
S20000510.1(13.2km)
9 May
3 days 11 hours
40 earthquakes
S20000523.1(28.1km)
22 May
1 day 10 hours
40 earthquakes
9 Sep
5 days 12 hours
111 earthquakes
S20001020.1(13.5km)
19 Oct
2 days 19 hours
98 earthquakes
S20001122.1(24.6km)
21 Nov
1 day 6 hours
42 earthquakes
2002
3 Jan
3 days 1 hours
61 earthquakes
S20020120.1(23.0km)
19 Jan
7 days 17 hours
99 earthquakes
S20020130.1(22.9km)
29 Jan
1 day 2 hours
27 earthquakes
25 May
12 days 2 hours
136 earthquakes
13 Jun
36 days 2 hours
1659 earthquakes
19 Jul
89 days 17 hours
1357 earthquakes
3 Dec
7 days 15 hours
89 earthquakes
2003
24 May
4 days 16 hours
88 earthquakes
16 Nov
1 day 14 hours
32 earthquakes
2005
18 Oct
4 days 12 hours
59 earthquakes
6 Nov
2 days 19 hours
69 earthquakes
2006
25 Jun
8 days 12 hours
129 earthquakes
2007
23 Jun
1 day 6 hours
40 earthquakes
6 Jul
4 days 3 hours
89 earthquakes
2008
S20080127.2(18.8km)
26 Jan
1 day 14 hours
32 earthquakes
S20080210.1(29.6km)
9 Feb
2 days 7 hours
40 earthquakes
14 Jun
3 days 1 hours
42 earthquakes
21 Sep
9 days 14 hours
133 earthquakes
5 Oct
27 days 12 hours
359 earthquakes
6 Dec
5 days 16 hours
55 earthquakes
2009
8 Jan
3 days 17 hours
48 earthquakes
30 Jun
8 days 13 hours
88 earthquakes
25 Jul
29 days 18 hours
381 earthquakes
4 Dec
2 days 7 hours
34 earthquakes
2010
1 Feb
3 days 5 hours
44 earthquakes
12 Feb
7 days 8 hours
89 earthquakes
3 Jun
1 day 7 hours
32 earthquakes
2012
31 May
5 days 2 hours
101 earthquakes
2014
16 Apr
1 day 19 hours
32 earthquakes
2015
21 Jul
3 days 19 hours
218 earthquakes
6 Sep
1 day 10 hours
26 earthquakes
16 Oct
2 days 3 hours
47 earthquakes
2016
27 Feb
1 day 4 hours
38 earthquakes
S20161118.1(27.2km)
18 Nov
1 day 10 hours
31 earthquakes
10 Dec
4 days 3 hours
49 earthquakes
S20161218.1(13.1km)
17 Dec
1 day 1 hours
27 earthquakes
2019
S20190424.1(27.3km)
23 Apr
1 day 11 hours
46 earthquakes
2022
16 Jan
2 days 14 hours
49 earthquakes
S20220519.1(23.0km)
18 May
1 day 5 hours
37 earthquakes
2024
18 Jan
8 hours
51 earthquakes
18 Apr
2 days 16 hours
66 earthquakes
2025
9 Feb
3 days 18 hours
77 earthquakes
29 Jul
2 days 0 hours
60 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20080515.1: Analysis of Activity Near Beatty, Nevada

Seismic swarm S20080515.1 occurred in a tectonically active portion of the Basin and Range Province, approximately 46 km east-southeast of Beatty, Nevada. The sequence began at 06:56 UTC on 14 May 2008 and concluded at 10:49 UTC on 20 May 2008, spanning 147 hours and 53 minutes. During this interval, 70 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from -0.5 to 1.9 and focal depths predominantly between 4 km and 11 km.

The temporal distribution shows the highest event frequency on 14 May, immediately after initiation, followed by a gradual decline through 20 May. Most events clustered at depths of 9–11 km, consistent with brittle failure in the upper crust. A single event at 0 km depth on 20 May appears anomalous and may reflect location uncertainty rather than true surface rupture. Magnitudes remained low overall, with only three events exceeding magnitude 1.0, indicating a swarm characterized by microseismicity rather than mainshock-aftershock behavior.

Geologically, the region lies within the southwestern Nevada volcanic field, influenced by Miocene extension and subsequent Basin and Range normal faulting. The area features a mix of volcanic tuffs, sedimentary basins, and Quaternary alluvium overlying Paleozoic carbonates. Historical seismic monitoring since 2000 has documented 21 swarms in the vicinity, with notable clusters in 2000 (5 swarms) and 2002 (7 swarms). This pattern suggests recurring fluid-driven or aseismic-slip-triggered activity along favorably oriented faults.

The 2008 swarm aligns with the area's established low-to-moderate strain accumulation, where diffuse seismicity occurs without producing large-magnitude events. Depths around 10 km place activity below the shallow sedimentary cover, within more competent volcanic and crystalline rocks. Such swarms contribute to long-term strain release but pose minimal surface hazard given their limited energy release.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm classification records.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program regional tectonic summaries for the Basin and Range Province.