i just notice it because i look up earthquakes all the time, and Alaska always seems to have the most circles... they never really say anything on the news about them...

I'd put my money on Altarock as the cause of these swarms. They probably went too deep or created too much pressure with the water (and proprietary chemicals) they have injected into these existing cracks. Low frequency quakes can be caused by water movement through cracks.

Seems like a huge energy experiment since this volcano has now become the world's top monitored volcano. Hmmmm, what a coincidence. Good luck Oregon!

Yes, that's the one ... Seen a docu on that a couple of years back. Quite daunting to think that if that thing goes BOOM! ... we're all in deep deep trouble :/
So with that in mind, if things are stirring in the US ... It's quite freaky.
Let's keep our fingers crossed that Mother Earth will settle down again!

"a U.S. geothermal company is working on extracting geothermal energy from a dormant volcano in central Oregon through fracking. It has been reported that "AltaRock Energy and Davenport Newberry, the companies behind the $43 million plan, have been granted a permit to hydrofrack the hot rocks flanking the Newberry volcano in Oregon, where Davenport Newberry has secured federal leases on 62 square miles of land." The plan is in the early stages of development.[3]"


Probably in a different location but yikes!

Guess this is a good time to start smoking pot.

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/power-struggle_earthquakes-trigger-concern-over-geothermal-power/36967768


Oct 3, 2013 - 10:00
The two biggest geothermal projects in Switzerland have caused earthquakes. One project was halted as a result but another is still underway. Critics want further projects stopped. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

Geothermal energy is an inexhaustible, clean and constant energy source. By the year 2050,it's hoped that up to 10 % of the country’s energy needs will be covered by around 200 geothermal energy stations. But there’s still a lot of uncertainty about its cost and safety. The injection of fluids into hot rock can cause fracturing, which can generate low magnitude seismic activity. Drilling in Basel several years ago caused a series of earthquakes, some greater than magnitude 3. The project had to be stopped. Boring work on a different project in St Gallen in summer this year triggered another earthquake. Measurements taken by the Swiss Seismological Service showed that after drilling stopped there were hundreds of aftershocks. They said these could continue for months or years. While energy specialists seem to agree that geothermal power has potential benefits, not everyone believes it should have a priority for funding over other renewables. Further geothermal projects are being planned in Switzerland at the moment.


http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/geothermal-project-shakes-basel-again/46284

seems to be happening everywhere!

I think Dr. Evil has something to do with it.

Death toll from Afghanistan quake mounts to 180, Pakistan severely hit - Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Death-toll-from-Afghanistan-quake-mounts-to-180-Pakistan-severely-hit/articleshow/49539393.cms/


Massive Afghanistan earthquake kills three people in J&K, India http://m.firstpost.com/world/massive-afghanistan-earthquake-kills-three-people-in-jk-india-2483486.html/

These are the folks and they were at this location a couple months ago, per Moe's original post. Per Conrad's post, the after shocks can continue for months or years.

Altarock started this fracturing (not fracking exactly) in 2009, I think. There was already a small swarm of quakes some time ago.

It just makes no sense to try to expand cracks near a volcano in order to create steam for clean energy. Besides, it's not truly clean energy as they pump chemicals with the water into these dormant cracks.

Fracking, used in the petroleum industry, actually polluted some ground waters.

About half of my family lives in that area. Front row seats to St Helens a while back.

I can assure you, none of THEM think the danger has been worse, or will ebb, because Obama was elected, and will leave office in a little over a year.

By the way, the science so far supports that fracking CAN cause quakes. So I personally wouldn't go for it around volcanoes, myself.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/research/induced/

If you not aware, there was volcanic activity in Oregon many, many, many years ago. All you have to do is go up near Bend just off Hwy.97 and you'll see an area with lave rock formations. I believe it's before you get into Bend, but it's been so long since I've lived there I can only generalize the location. It can also be off the McKenzie highway as you come out of Blue River. Pretty area. Miss it. BTW, GO DUCKS!