Idaho Rattled by 67 Earthquakes in Isolated Area

There's something unusual happening in a very remote part of Idaho. At least 67 earthquakes have shaken a very isolated area and very few people have noticed although many of these quakes are large enough to feel - and they're still happening now.

As I was checking the USGS earthquake map, I noticed a large cluster of tremors in an unusual place. Nearly all were centered in an area in the north-central part of Idaho not far from Stanley. In just the past 7 days, the USGS has confirmed a stunning 67 earthquakes in this tiny part of Idaho verified by seismologists.

These have not all been tiny tremors either. More than a half dozen were greater than 3 in magnitude as confirmed by the USGS. What's odd is they are all clustered around a nearby mountain range.

What's causing all these Idaho earthquakes?

According to the Idaho Geological Survey, the earthquakes near Stanley are tectonic in nature. These quakes first looked like they were an extension of the Sawtooth Fault, but now the USGS says they might be part of a "complex strike-slip motion". Geologists in Idaho admit they really don't know what fault is causing all of these quakes.

The USGS thinks it knows what's behind these recent quakes

Back in March of 2020, there was a very strong 6.5 earthquake that was centered near Stanley, Idaho. The USGS says what's happening now is "a classic example of a mainshock-aftershock sequence". What you're seeing now is likely just the aftereffects of that major quake still resonating more than 5 years later. The Idaho Geological Survey adds that they do not believe these quakes are related to the Yellowstone super-volcano and have no effect on the activity there.