Two days, two earthquakes in Colorado
By RMI Staff 
| August 18, 2009 | 10:39 AM
Colorado isn’t generally known for its seismic activity, but an earthquake in the southeastern part of the state Sunday evening was followed by another in the northwestern part of the state Monday night.
The first quake, which occurred Sunday at 6:22 p.m., was centered roughly 100 miles east of Pueblo and had a 3.9 magnitude. The second occurred Monday at 8:50 p.m. and was centered 11 miles north of Craig. Initial reports indicated it was a magnitude 4.4, although the official United States Geographical Survey log lists it at magnitude 3.7.
With the magnitude of both quakes under 4, they’re considered minor; usually an earthquake must be above magnitude 4 or 5 to cause damage.
State geologist Vince Matthews told the Associated Press on Monday that the southeast Colorado quake might have come from an unmapped extension of the Cheraw Fault, thought to be a young fault.
Click here for a map of fault lines in Colorado and historical earthquake information in the state from the Colorado Geological Survey.
cheraw fault, colorado, craig, earthquake, pueblo
