Arkansas fault is longer than previous thought

Geologists say a fault in central Arkansas where hundreds of earthquakes have been recorded in recent months is longer and potentially more destructive than initially believed. Scientists had thought the fault is 3.7 miles long. Now they estimate it to be 6 to 7.5 miles long.

Arkansas Geological Survey geohazard supervisor Scott Ausbrooks told  that the length is a concern because a longer fault could trigger bigger earthquakes. They have named the fault line “The Guy-Greenbrier Fault” in an effort to track the swarms of quakes in the area. Ausbrooks says the longer fault line could create up to a magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Arkansas.

More than 800 earthquakes have been recorded in the area in the past six months — including a 4.7 magnitude quake on Feb. 27 that was the largest earthquake recorded in Arkansas in 35 years. Injection wells used by companies drilling for natural gas and thought to be connected to the quakes have been temporarily shut down.

Arkansas fault line longer than predicted (TodaysTHV)