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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:
34 km NW of Furnace Creek, California
Period:
21 Nov 2015 03:47:42 - 23 Nov 2015 08:05:53 (2 days 4 hours 18 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Ubehebe Craters(50km)
Earthquakes:
51
5 swarms found nearby.
2003
22 Feb
2 days 14 hours
42 earthquakes
9 Mar
1 day 22 hours
36 earthquakes
13 Mar
20 days 7 hours
657 earthquakes
2015
S20150629.1(13.8km)
29 Jun
22 hours
31 earthquakes
2024
24 Oct
3 days 12 hours
90 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20151122.1 Near Furnace Creek, California

A notable seismic swarm designated S20151122.1 was recorded in the Death Valley region of eastern California. The sequence began at 03:47 on 21 November 2015 and concluded at 08:05 on 23 November 2015, spanning 52 hours and 18 minutes. During this period, 51 earthquakes were registered at a location 34 km northwest of Furnace Creek.

The events were predominantly of low magnitude, ranging from -0.6 to 2.4, with focal depths between 0 and 12 km. Notable activity included a magnitude 2.2 event at 21:41 on 21 November at 3 km depth and a magnitude 2.4 event at 01:21 on 22 November, also at 3 km depth. Multiple smaller events clustered in the early hours of 22 November, with several registering near or below magnitude 0.0. Depths showed variation, though many occurred in the upper 10 km of the crust.

This swarm represents one of only four documented swarms in the area since 2000. Prior activity includes three swarms in 2003 and one additional swarm in 2015. Such sequences are characterized by a lack of a dominant mainshock, with energy release distributed across numerous smaller events over a short timeframe.

The swarm occurred within the tectonically active Death Valley region, part of the Eastern California Shear Zone. This area features a complex network of strike-slip and normal faults associated with the broader Pacific-North American plate boundary. The Furnace Creek fault and related structures accommodate significant right-lateral shear and extension, contributing to the formation of the Death Valley pull-apart basin. Historical seismicity in the region reflects ongoing deformation, with frequent small-magnitude earthquakes linked to these fault systems.

Geological records indicate that Death Valley has experienced repeated seismic episodes tied to its extensional setting, with basin-fill sediments and exposed fault scarps providing evidence of Quaternary activity. Depths observed in the swarm align with typical brittle failure zones in the upper crust of this area.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm classification records.
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program regional fault database.
California Geological Survey tectonic summaries for the Eastern California Shear Zone.