New Mexico Experiences Continued Earthquake Swarms in Valencia and Socorro Counties
Southern Valencia and northern Socorro counties in New Mexico are experiencing another series of small earthquakes, following a similar swarm in June. On Monday, a magnitude 3.1 quake was detected near Pueblitos in northern Socorro County, followed by a magnitude 2.5 quake near the Valencia County line around midnight. These recent tremors are part of a familiar pattern for seismologists studying the area, which sits above the Socorro magma body. Mairi Litherland, seismic network manager with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory, explained that these swarms, characterized by several earthquakes of relatively similar size over time, are typical for this region and have been observed historically, including in 1990 and 1991. While the current activity is more frequent than in recent years, it is not unprecedented for the area. The earthquakes are primarily caused by stress building up and releasing due to the magma body, rather than plate tectonics. 
