September 17, 2024 |
Photo – Map of earthquake epicenter – Courtesy USGS
A small earthquake occurred roughly five and a half miles southeast of Saratoga.
At 11:50pm Friday night, a magnitude 3.4 earthquake struck the Platte Valley. Geologist James Mauch from the Wyoming State Geological Survey said six people reported feeling the small earthquake.
The epicenter was located nine kilometers south-southeast of Saratoga, and nearly six miles underground. Mauch said the United States Geological Survey categorized Friday’s quake as intensity level three. At that level, Mauch said people may not even realize a quake has occurred.
An earthquake occurs when stress builds up under the surface of the earth and is suddenly released. Mauch said geologists believe that Friday’s quake was likely caused by the Rio Grande rift.
Mauch said the Rio Grande rift is a collection of fault lines running from New Mexico into northern Colorado. The state geologist said the rift’s northern edge may reach into southern Wyoming, but it hasn’t been well studied.
Mauch said earthquakes are fairly common in south central Wyoming. The state geologist said our area typically experiences one minor tremor every year.
Carbon Power and Light Director of Member Services Joe Parrie told Bigfoot99 that Friday’s 3.4 magnitude earthquake was not responsible for causing Platte Valley customers to lose electricity Saturday morning. Parrie said the time between the earthquake, 11:50 Friday night, and the power outage, approximately 8:30 Saturday morning, was too long for the quake to have played any part.
