Las Vegas Sun

November 10, 2009

Currently: 57° | Complete forecast | Log in

Test site rattled by quake

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 | 10:55 a.m.

Up to 25 aftershocks rattled the Nevada Test Site through Monday after a 4.0 magnitude earthquake struck about 6:30 a.m. Friday.

The location of the quake and its following temblors lies about 12 miles east of Yucca Mountain, under study by the U.S. Department of Energy for a high-level nuclear waste dump.

The original quake occurred about six miles underground, said seismologist Diane DePolo of the Seismological Laboratory at the University of Nevada, Reno.

"There have been no earthquakes at Yucca Mountain, but the area is active," she said.

Friday's quake was detected on most Nevada seismic stations, including the Southern Great Basin Digital Seismic Network, which has 23 stations operated in the vicinity of Yucca Mountain, 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas.

Nevada Test Site workers reported feeling the earthquake, but no damages were reported.

archive

  • Most Read
  • Discussed
  • Most E-mailed

Complete Listing

Calendar »

  • 10 Tue
  • 11 Wed
  • 12 Thu
  • 13 Fri
  • 14 Sat

All events on Tuesday »