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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:
24 km SSE of Mina, Nevada
Period:
15 May 2020 11:17:26 - 16 May 2020 09:53:28 (22 hours 36 minutes)
Volcanoes in 100km radius:
Mono Lake Volcanic Field(89km), Mono-Inyo Craters(95km)
Earthquakes:
26
26 swarms found nearby.
2003
S20030529.1(15.3km)
29 May
4 days 7 hours
164 earthquakes
S20031116.1(17.7km)
15 Nov
2 days 1 hours
52 earthquakes
2013
19 Jan
2 days 18 hours
65 earthquakes
S20130213.1(13.4km)
12 Feb
11 days 5 hours
345 earthquakes
2014
S20140516.1(29.7km)
16 May
9 hours
55 earthquakes
2020
S20200318.1(28.2km)
17 Mar
3 days 22 hours
75 earthquakes
S20200515.1(12.6km)
15 May
295 days 1 hours
21711 earthquakes
15 May
32 days 11 hours
1150 earthquakes
S20200517.1(25.8km)
16 May
11 days 1 hours
418 earthquakes
27 May
17 days 11 hours
384 earthquakes
14 Jun
31 days 0 hours
472 earthquakes
7 Jul
5 days 6 hours
63 earthquakes
25 Jul
11 days 0 hours
125 earthquakes
S20201020.3(26.4km)
19 Oct
1 day 23 hours
31 earthquakes
S20201203.1(25.0km)
2 Dec
8 days 6 hours
153 earthquakes
10 Dec
1 day 1 hours
42 earthquakes
S20201220.1(19.2km)
19 Dec
7 days 21 hours
133 earthquakes
2021
1 Jan
16 hours
24 earthquakes
S20210117.2(10.9km)
17 Jan
1 day 7 hours
25 earthquakes
S20210330.1(17.6km)
29 Mar
19 days 16 hours
285 earthquakes
S20210505.1(14.8km)
4 May
16 days 21 hours
229 earthquakes
S20210927.1(14.1km)
26 Sep
2 days 0 hours
31 earthquakes
S20211001.1(12.1km)
30 Sep
6 days 14 hours
87 earthquakes
15 Oct
7 days 7 hours
86 earthquakes
28 Oct
10 days 4 hours
136 earthquakes
2022
S20220105.1(14.7km)
4 Jan
6 days 14 hours
106 earthquakes
AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm S20200516.2: Analysis of Activity Near Mina, Nevada

Seismic swarm S20200516.2 occurred 24 km south-southeast of Mina, Nevada, in western Mineral County. The sequence began at 11:17 UTC on 15 May 2020 and concluded at 09:53 UTC on 16 May 2020, spanning 22 hours and 36 minutes. During this interval, 26 earthquakes were recorded, with magnitudes ranging from 1.7 to 4.6.

The largest events included two magnitude 4.6 earthquakes, one at 11:17 on 15 May at a depth of 8 km and another at 04:12 on 16 May at 5 km depth. Additional notable shocks reached magnitude 3.7 at 17:49 on 15 May (5 km depth) and magnitude 3.5 at 17:25 the same day (10 km depth). Depths throughout the swarm clustered between 0 and 16 km, consistent with shallow crustal faulting typical of the region. The sequence displayed a pattern of initial larger events followed by smaller aftershocks, with activity tapering toward the end of the period.

This swarm forms part of recurring seismic episodes in the Mina area. Since 2000, eight swarms have been documented in the immediate vicinity, occurring in 2003 (two events), 2013 (two events), 2014 (one event), and 2020 (three events). Such clustering suggests episodic release of strain along local fault networks rather than isolated mainshock-aftershock sequences.

The Mina region lies within the Walker Lane belt of western Nevada, a zone of distributed right-lateral shear and extension that accommodates a significant portion of Pacific-North America relative plate motion. The local geology is dominated by Basin and Range normal faults superimposed on earlier Mesozoic and Cenozoic structures. Quaternary fault scarps and volcanic rocks indicate ongoing tectonic activity, with the area experiencing moderate seismicity driven by northwest-directed extension and shear.

Historical records show that Mineral County and adjacent regions have hosted damaging earthquakes, underscoring the potential for larger events amid swarm activity. The 2020 swarm aligns with this tectonic framework, where fluid migration or aseismic slip may trigger clustered seismicity along favorably oriented faults.

Further monitoring by regional seismic networks continues to refine understanding of strain accumulation in this portion of the Walker Lane.

References

USGS Earthquake Catalog
Nevada Seismological Laboratory records
SeismoSight internal swarm classification database