RICHLAND, Mo. — A minor earthquake shook parts of central Missouri early Thursday morning. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded a magnitude 2.4 quake at 12:34 a.m., with no reports of injuries or damage.
While earthquakes are more typical in Missouri’s New Madrid Seismic Zone in the southeastern bootheel, this central location is less common. Geologists note that dormant faults in the bedrock can occasionally shift due to natural geological stress, even after long periods of inactivity.
The quake’s epicenter was about 8.7 miles southeast of Richland, and roughly 10.6 miles west-northwest of Fort Leonard Wood. Other nearby towns include Lebanon (17.7 miles NE), Rolla (34.7 miles SW), and Jefferson City (58.5 miles S).
The tremor originated at a shallow depth of just over 1.2 miles below the surface, which can cause even small quakes to be felt across a broader area.
While some small quakes are linked to fracking, mining, or reservoir activity, there is currently no evidence tying this event to human activity.
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