A series of small earthquakes has recently shaken West Canton, North Carolina, raising questions about a previously dormant fault line. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 2.1 magnitude quake early Friday morning, centered about four kilometers north of the town. This follows a 2.5 magnitude quake on June 6th and a 3.2 and 2.2 magnitude quake on June 4th. While these tremors have been relatively minor, with only a few reports of weak shaking, scientists are uncertain about the future activity of this fault line.
The 2.1 magnitude earthquake struck near West Canton, North Carolina. (U.S. Geological Survey)
The 3.2 magnitude earthquake on June 4th was felt by tens of residents. (U.S. Geological Survey)
All the recent seismic activity has been concentrated around Chambers Mountain. (U.S. Geological Survey)
All the quakes have originated near Chambers Mountain. The USGS acknowledges the possibility of stronger quakes in the future, though the current activity has been minor. A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures between rock blocks, allowing them to shift relative to each other. This movement can manifest as rapid earthquakes or slow creep. Faults can range in size from millimeters to thousands of kilometers. During an earthquake, the rock on one side of the fault abruptly slips in relation to the other. While California experiences hundreds of earthquakes annually, North Carolina only recorded one between 2010 and 2015, highlighting the unusual nature of the recent activity in West Canton.
