Location:

Period:

26 Dec 2017 13:15:21 - 27 Dec 2017 11:19:47 (22 hours 4 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Soda Lakes(99km)

Earthquakes:

9 swarms found nearby.

2003

S20030713.1(29.1km)

12 Jul

1 day 14 hours

105 earthquakes

2005

S20050916.1(17.0km)

16 Sep

1 day 12 hours

81 earthquakes

2013

S20130605.1(18.4km)

5 Jun

2 days 0 hours

56 earthquakes

S20130617.1(18.9km)

16 Jun

6 days 16 hours

72 earthquakes

2017

S20170607.1(21.5km)

6 Jun

1 day 8 hours

46 earthquakes

2018

S20181205.1(17.6km)

4 Dec

1 day 21 hours

39 earthquakes

S20181220.1(18.2km)

20 Dec

2 days 19 hours

45 earthquakes

2020

S20200321.1(18.0km)

21 Mar

14 days 4 hours

402 earthquakes

2021

S20210528.2(29.8km)

28 May

16 hours

33 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm S20171226.1 Near Minden, Nevada

A seismic swarm designated S20171226.1 occurred 1 km south-southwest of Minden, Nevada, beginning at 13:15 on 26 December 2017 and concluding at 11:19 on 27 December 2017. Over 22 hours and 4 minutes, the sequence produced 33 earthquakes, with magnitudes ranging from -0.1 to 1.1 and focal depths between 2 km and 12 km. The events clustered tightly in time and space, characteristic of swarm behavior rather than a mainshock-aftershock sequence.

The swarm initiated with a magnitude 0.0 event at 7 km depth, followed rapidly by additional small events. Peak activity occurred in the afternoon of 26 December, including multiple events of magnitude 0.8–1.1 at depths of 6–9 km. Later events on 27 December tapered off, ending with a magnitude 0.6 shock at 6 km depth. All events remained below magnitude 2.0, producing no reported damage or felt shaking beyond instrumental detection.

Minden lies within the Carson Valley of western Nevada, part of the Basin and Range province. This extensional tectonic setting features north-south trending normal faults that accommodate regional crustal stretching. The area also sits near the northern termination of the Walker Lane, a northwest-trending zone of right-lateral shear that absorbs a portion of Pacific–North American plate motion. Local structures include the Genoa fault and related segments of the Sierra Nevada frontal fault system, which have produced prehistoric earthquakes of magnitude 6.5–7.0.

Seismic swarms recur in this region due to fluid migration along faults and ongoing tectonic strain. Historical records maintained by SeismoSight document five swarms since 1 January 2000, occurring in 2003 (one swarm), 2005 (one swarm), 2013 (two swarms), and 2017 (this event). These episodes typically involve dozens of microearthquakes over hours to days, with depths commonly between 5 km and 12 km, consistent with the S20171226.1 sequence.

The 2017 swarm aligns with the long-term pattern of low-magnitude, clustered seismicity in Carson Valley. No surface rupture or significant ground deformation was associated with the activity. Ongoing monitoring by regional networks continues to track microseismicity to refine fault models and assess hazard in this tectonically active corridor.

References

SeismoSight internal swarm catalog (S20171226.1 parameters and historical statistics).
U.S. Geological Survey Earthquake Hazards Program regional fault database.
Nevada Seismological Laboratory tectonic framework reports.