GREAT FALLS — The U.S. Geological Survey reports that there was a small earthquake Tuesday northeast of Billings.
The earthquake was reported at 5:44 a.m. and registered as a magnitude 4.1.
It occurred at a depth of 6.2 miles and was centered about 54 miles northeast of Billings, and 17 miles south/southwest of Melstone.
There have been no reports of damage or injuries. Click here for the USGS website.
BACKGROUND: According to the USGS, Montana is one of the most seismically-active states in the country, although the vast majority of recorded earthquakes are very small, causing no damage and rarely noticed by people.
Montana is located within the Intermountain Seismic Belt, an active earthquake region stretching along the Rocky Mountains. It is the fourth-most seismically active state, although the vast majority of earthquakes in Montana are too small to be felt.
But there are exceptions. About 90 years ago, a large earthquake hit southwest Montana. The quake damaged a school house in Three Forks, twisted railroad tracks along the Missouri River, and damaged a jail in White Sulphur Springs.
Ten years after that another big quake hit Helena, killing two people and causing millions of dollars in damage. It damaged churches, collapsed walls right out of homes, and hit commercial and government buildings as well.
In July 2017, a magnitude 5.8 quake struck several miles southeast of Lincoln, causing some damage but no injuries.
