ST. GEORGE – The U.S. Geological Service has issued a preliminary report of a 4.4 magnitude earthquake at 9:46 p.m. today with an epicenter 35 miles ESE of Moab in the area of the Paradox Basin in the Colorado Plateau.
According to the USGS, the area has a low rate of seismology; further:
“The Paradox Basin is the area underlain by thick beds of salt in the Pennsylvanian-age Paradox Formation. In contrast to most of the Colorado Plateau, the Paradox Basin is structurally complex resulting from movement and dissolution of Paradox Formation salt. The northern part of the area around Moab is a fold and fault belt characterized by northwest-trending faults with evidence for geologically young displacement. These high-angle, valley-bounding faults are associated with collapse due to salt dissolution along the crests of large salt anticlines, cored by mobilized upwelling plumes of salt from the underlying Paradox Formation.”
This report reflects preliminary information provided by the Earthquake Notification Service. Sometimes the preliminary reports are retracted.
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4.4…is that all? Sheesh….