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+--- Thread: Strange earthquakes in Utah reveal volcanic activity hidden below the desert (/thread-9898.html)
Strange earthquakes in Utah reveal volcanic activity hidden below the desert - C C - Mar 4, 2021
https://www.sciencealert.com/strange-earthquakes-in-utah-reveal-volcanic-activity-hidden-below-the-desert
EXCERPTS: According to a new study, a pair of recent earthquakes in 2018 and 2019 were not indicative of tectonic activity, but were seismic rumblings produced by the Black Rock Desert volcanic field – an ancient volcanic system in Utah's Sevier Desert that's been active for over 6 million years and, apparently, is still alive and kicking. "Our findings suggest that the system is still active and that the earthquakes were probably the result of fluid-related movement in the general area," says seismologist Maria Mesimeri from the University of Utah. "The earthquakes could be the result of the fluid squeezing through rock or the result of deformation from fluid movement that stressed the surface faults."
[...] Despite the ancient age of the volcanic complex, its quietness in terms of obvious volcanic activity means it's a relatively little-known feature of Utah's large landscape. Black Rock's last eruptive event was over 1,000 years ago, resulting in the region's Ice Springs lava flows. As for whether the most recent rumblings are indicative of future outbursts, there's no evidence for that, the researchers say. But these quakes are a reminder that Black Rock is still active after all these years, and that this dormant volcano is not extinct.. (MORE - details)