M1.7 earthquake 18 km W of Volta, California

A magnitude 1.7 earthquake struck 18 km W of Volta, California on Sun, Dec 16, 1979, 1:57 AM PST (09:57 UTC), 6 km (4 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M1.9 9 km NE of Livermore, California. This one was a foreshock.

Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: 189 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of 189.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nc1049378. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 11:35 AM UTC.