The Nevada Seismological Laboratory recorded an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3 on the Richter scale near Gerlach at 4:54 a.m. Sunday. The quake's epicenter was located approximately 12 miles south of Gerlach.
The depth of the quake was computed to be about 3 miles, and very near the magnitude 3.8 quake reported on Thursday. It occurred in an area that has had 12 earthquakes greater than a magnitude of 2, and 3 earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 3, since Oct. 5 of this year.
The Richter scale is a gauge of the energy released by an earthquake as measured by the ground motion recorded on a seismograph. Every increase in number means that the ground motion is 10 times greater.
A quake of magnitude 2 is the smallest normally felt by humans: magnitude 3.5 can cause slight damage, and magntude 4.0 can cause moderate damage.
The Laboratory operates a statewide network of seismographic stations and investigates the sizes, frequencies of occurrence, and distribution of earthquakes in the region as well as other problems related to seismic risk in Nevada.
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