Seismic Swarm S20140113.1 Near Beatty, Nevada: Characteristics and Regional Context

Seismic swarm S20140113.1 was recorded in the area 34 km NNE of Beatty, Nevada. The sequence began at 07:31 on 12 January 2014 and concluded at 01:35 on 16 January 2014, spanning 90 hours and 3 minutes. During this interval, 70 earthquakes were registered. The events exhibited low magnitudes, predominantly between -1.0 and 2.0, with the largest reaching 2.0 on 12 January at 22:04:34. Focal depths clustered between 4 km and 9 km, indicating shallow crustal activity typical of the region. The swarm displayed a rapid onset with numerous events in the first 24 hours, followed by a gradual decline, consistent with fluid-driven or stress-release processes observed in similar sequences. This activity aligns with the broader tectonic setting of western Nevada, situated within the Basin and Range province. The area experiences ongoing extensional deformation accommodated by normal and strike-slip faults. Proximity to the Walker Lane shear zone contributes to elevated seismicity rates, where small-magnitude events frequently occur in clusters rather than as isolated mainshock-aftershock sequences. Historical records maintained since 1 January 2000 document 14 seismic swarms in the immediate vicinity. These include two events in 2002, three in 2005, two in 2008, five in 2009, one in 2012, and one in 2013. Such recurrence underscores the persistent seismic character of the locale, influenced by regional fault networks and possible hydrothermal influences. The 2014 swarm fits established patterns, with event rates and depth distributions mirroring prior episodes. No damage or felt reports were associated with these microearthquakes, reflecting their limited energy release.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm classification database.
USGS Earthquake Catalog for Nevada region (2000–2014).
Nevada Seismological Laboratory regional tectonic summaries.