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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:
35 km SSE of Goldfield, Nevada
Period:
23 Nov 2017 16:57:44 - 25 Nov 2017 06:37:39 (1 day 13 hours 39 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Ubehebe Craters(52km)
Earthquakes:
34
17 swarms found nearby.
2000
6 Jun
7 days 22 hours
86 earthquakes
2001
8 Jul
1 day 15 hours
29 earthquakes
2002
2 Dec
1 day 23 hours
37 earthquakes
2006
26 May
4 days 17 hours
173 earthquakes
2007
24 Jan
2 days 15 hours
85 earthquakes
4 Jul
2 days 20 hours
47 earthquakes
2010
3 Jul
1 day 3 hours
38 earthquakes
2011
17 Apr
2 days 12 hours
62 earthquakes
17 Jul
1 day 18 hours
35 earthquakes
2012
17 Dec
7 days 12 hours
440 earthquakes
2015
3 Jun
2 days 10 hours
48 earthquakes
2021
4 Oct
4 days 10 hours
69 earthquakes
2024
S20240619.1(10.5km)
18 Jun
7 days 14 hours
102 earthquakes
15 Dec
1 day 15 hours
28 earthquakes
22 Dec
2 days 7 hours
49 earthquakes
31 Dec
3 days 8 hours
65 earthquakes
2025
19 Apr
2 days 13 hours
49 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20171124.1: Analysis of Activity Near Goldfield, Nevada

Seismic swarm S20171124.1 occurred approximately 35 km south-southeast of Goldfield in Esmeralda County, Nevada. The sequence began at 16:57 UTC on 23 November 2017 and concluded at 06:37 UTC on 25 November 2017, spanning 37 hours and 39 minutes. During this interval, 34 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from -0.3 to 1.9 and focal depths primarily between 0 and 14 km.

The events clustered tightly in both space and time, characteristic of swarm behavior rather than a typical mainshock-aftershock sequence. The largest event reached magnitude 1.9 at 19:17 UTC on 23 November at a depth of 13 km. Most events remained below magnitude 1.0, with many registering negative magnitudes indicative of microseismicity detectable only by sensitive instruments.

Goldfield lies within the Basin and Range Province, where extensional tectonics drive normal faulting and distributed crustal deformation. The region forms part of the Walker Lane belt, a zone of dextral shear accommodating roughly 20 percent of the Pacific-North America plate motion. This tectonic setting produces frequent small-magnitude earthquakes and occasional swarms throughout western Nevada.

Historical records document 11 prior swarms in the same area since 1 January 2000. These occurred in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007 (two swarms), 2010, 2011 (two swarms), 2012, and 2015. Such recurrent swarm activity suggests persistent fluid migration or aseismic slip along local fault networks, common in the highly fractured crust of the region.

The Goldfield mining district itself developed on Miocene volcanic and intrusive rocks associated with caldera-related magmatism. While mining-induced seismicity can occur, the 2017 swarm aligns with natural patterns observed across the broader Nevada seismic belt. Depths between 0 and 14 km place events within the seismogenic upper crust, consistent with regional fault mechanics.

No damage or felt reports were associated with this low-magnitude sequence. Continued monitoring by regional networks remains essential for understanding long-term strain accumulation in this tectonically active corridor.

References

  • SeismoSight internal swarm catalog (S20171124.1 parameters and historical counts)
  • USGS Earthquake Hazards Program regional tectonic summaries for Nevada
  • Nevada Seismological Laboratory annual reports on Walker Lane seismicity