M3.1 Earthquake 12 km NNE of Colstrip, Montana — September 12, 2023
2023-09-12 17:26:34 UTC (2023-09-12) · approx. 10:26 AM UTC-7 local
On September 12, 2023 at 17:26 UTC, a magnitude 3.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 12 km NNE of Colstrip, Montana, at a depth of 0.0 km and coordinates 45.9833°, -106.5493°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 83 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
-106.5493°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.1 earthquake near Colstrip, Montana?
The magnitude 3.1 earthquake that struck 12 km NNE of Colstrip, Montana on September 12, 2023 at 17:26 UTC had a depth of 0.0 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.1 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000kvbu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 12, 2023). M3.1 Earthquake 12 km NNE of Colstrip, Montana — September 12, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000kvbu/