Small quake jolts Marion County
A small earthquake, measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale, hit at 8:06 p.m. Thursday southeast of Marion.
The epicenter was tentatively located by the U.S. Geological Survey as being near 180th and Timber Rds., midway between Marion and Marion County Lake.
There were no immediate reports of damage. Earthquakes of this magnitude typically cause only mild swinging of hanging objects.
They are, in fact, more likely to be heard than felt. Earthquakes in this area tend to be caused be rock on the west edge of the Nemaha uplift breaking. The uplift runs along the west edge of the Flint Hills. The breaking of the rock typically is the sound most people hear.
Marion County has recorded many earthquakes in the past century, but none has reached 3.0 on the Richter scale. Thursday night’s was actually one of the strongest.