Earthquake

[mresell]

thanks nhdonny. I was looking for somethin like that. couldn't find it on VA geology site or neic. Was going to google it.Apparently, goochland(the area where this occurred) is a granite type terrace that has some geological significance. I knew a quake happened in may, but I did not realize it was in the same place pretty much. It was a 3.9. Not likin that. I did find some alarming pictures of one of the quakes in the appalachians. Big crack.

[nhdonny]

My wifes family is from piedmont area of NC and we've done lots of exploring and reading about the area. I knew it had to be active because my understanding is that geologists have shown that the New River must have been there before the mountains.. It is the only river that starts East of the Apps and goes West, eventually into the Tenn. River. The Mountains came up around the river.

Beautiful country too!

Not sure if anyone cares but I just proved myself wrong with more surfing on this boring night. http://www.wvgs.wvnet.edu/www/geology/geoles01.htm

[Vixen]

I lived in VA until almost 7 years ago (the majority of my life) when I moved to Florida and I have never felt a quake there or even heard of one. This is a new one on me. I am sure if they felt it in my home town I will hear about it when my mom calls later this week.

[jmbeach]

Originally Posted by johnk

Wow! My family is all in Western Virginia (not WEST Virginia), I hope they are safe. They live out in the middle of nowhere though, so no buildings around to fall on them

Take it from a life long Southern Californian - 4.5 for us is about the equivalent of a gentle breeze.

Then again, considering that out here what's not fastened to the foundation is glued in place helps with the damage factor

From winter storms to earthquakes - I feel for you east coasters.

[Brangwyn]

It's kinda weird hearing folks who have never felt an earthquake before, we just kinda take them for granted around here.

Originally Posted by jmbeach

Take it from a life long Southern Californian - 4.5 for us is about the equivalent of a gentle breeze.

Yes, 4.0-4.5 is good for shaking my martini's.

Glad no one was hurt.

[shadowfyre]

I have experienced several when I lived in NY in the late 80's. 1 big one - split the marble stairs at the house I was living at. Then while in college in Purchase it sounded like a freight train was going through the dorms - wild!

I have lived out in Southern California the last 8 years and believe it or not have not felt a single tremor (knock on wood)

[mresell]

Originally Posted by Brangwyn

It's kinda weird hearing folks who have never felt an earthquake before, we just kinda take them for granted around here.

Well, I like to think the earth under my feet won't be movin too much. The "island" we live on is the whole US. The one you live on is a wee bit smaller. I'm sure one can adapt. I have been here since 76 State of LA prior to that and Like I said I am not suprised by wind and water, but not fond of the earth moving "noticeably" beneath my feet. Homes and buildings here are not equipped for this and most insurance doesn't cover it. Hope it is not a new trend. There is a lot of info that shows that the US could "split" down the middle over time down the mississippi river. With the noticeable rising of oceans as well just hope it takes it's time.

[nhdonny]

Heck with rumbles, I heard that due to global warming the oceans will rise just enough to rid us of all those sea level rebel states. Maybe Vortech should be looking at a second cage up north.

[mresell]

Originally Posted by nhdonny

Heck with rumbles, I heard that due to global warming the oceans will rise just enough to rid us of all those sea level rebel states. Maybe Vortech should be looking at a second cage up north.

Well the ocean levels have been rising for a long time, most say due to ocean floor rising because of gas pockets. FL was serious swamps at one time (still is) so it may be again. Like I said just hope it takes it's time. Unfortunately, I am sure some of it will not. There are worse things, like supposedly, the moon moves an inch away from the earth every year and the effect of that on the planets orbit by even the smallest degree shows devastating effects in simulations.

So guess a little earth rumble is nothin

[Brangwyn]

The "island" we live on is the whole US. The one you live on is a wee bit smaller

True, but its not just a question of size but one of location too, NZ (as does much of the West Coast of the US) runs along the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where the Earths main tectonic plates meet. Unfortuntately two plate boundaries run right down the middle of NZ so everyone here pretty much just "gets used to it"

http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html

[mresell]

Originally Posted by Brangwyn

True, but its not just a question of size but one of location too, NZ (as does much of the West Coast of the US) runs along the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where the Earths main tectonic plates meet. Unfortuntately two plate boundaries run right down the middle of NZ so everyone here pretty much just "gets used to it"

http://www.geonet.org.nz/recent_quakes.html

Oh, right the size is significant in it's possible impact only. Yeah, apparently they don't know a whole lot about eastern faults. The fault map posted here of VA was interesting, but unreadable really. Apparently out where it occurred there was evidence of a major continental collision during the paleozoic era. It is right on the river as well. I like my earth to be a little more stable. What I think was amazing is how loud and vibratory it was. Being 4.5 mag it is considered light. Makes me not want to see anything above that.

[Brangwyn]

I'd say a good 80% or more of the earthquakes here I tend to hear before I feel, its quite amazing really, theres just this silence and then you hear a rumble and you pretty much know whats coming next, you just hope it's not the big one ... where I live the prediction is about 1 high magnitude quake every 100 or so years (though don't they say that about everywhere!!), think it's been 110 since the last 7.5+ earthquake.

[Silverbug]

yeah at which stage wellington will just slip right into the habour nice to be up in auckland where we dont have earthquakes....only volcanoes...hmmm (infact ramjet lives on one afaik)

[Brangwyn]

Hard not to live on a Volcano in Auckland really two dormant ones right smack dab in the middle of it almost.