ABC Radio
Originally Posted Feb. 6, 2015
(DALLAS) — A study conducted at Southern Methodist University found that the string of earthquakes felt near Irving, Texas in January were caused by a narrow fault line extending from Irving into West Dallas.
The preliminary study was initiated after at least one earthquake was felt in the area in April 2014.
The researchers had installed their first local monitors in Irving days before at least 10 tremors were felt in a two-day span on January 6 and 7. Most of the quakes felt during that time were small — the largest was measured at magnitude 3.6 on the Richter scale.
“Now that we know the fault’s location and depth,” SMU seismologist Brian Stump said in a statement, “we can begin studying how this fault moves — both the amount and direction of motion.”
The researchers hope to be able to determine what triggered the quakes.