Nevada earthquakes

M3.9 earthquake 30 km SSE of Mina, Nevada

A magnitude 3.9 earthquake struck 30 km SSE of Mina, Nevada on Sun, May 17, 2020, 12:08 PM PDT (19:08 UTC), 12 km (7 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M5.1 32 km ESE of Mina, Nevada. This one was a foreshock.

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Map

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

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The earthquake

Magnitude
3.9 (ML, local (Richter)), minor
Magnitude from
Nevada Seismological Laboratory
Local time
UTC
2020-05-17 19:08:23 UTC
Depth
12.0 km (7.5 mi), shallow
Epicenter
38.157° N, 117.935° W
Region
Nevada
Strongest shaking
IV, light shaking
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Magnitude estimates

Different scales measure different things and differ by a few tenths. The USGS marks one as preferred, and it is the one this page uses.

Mag.ScaleComputed byNotes
3.9ML, local (Richter)Nevada Seismological LaboratoryPreferred · Reviewed · ±0.27 · 8 stations
3.6Mwr, regional momentUSGS National Earthquake Information CenterReviewed · 13 stations

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated
IV, light shaking
Peak ground acceleration
1.3% of gravity
Peak ground velocity
-0.8 cm/s
Map
Automatic
USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter
Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Fault motion and ground failure

How the rock slipped, from the moment tensor, and the USGS estimate of landslides and liquefaction.

Faulting
Strike-slip
Moment magnitude
3.6 Mwr
Nodal plane 1
Strike 352°, dip 85°, rake -160°
Nodal plane 2
Strike 260°, dip 70°, rake -5°

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude uncertainty
±0.27
Station coverage gap
45°
Stations used
24

Nearest places

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

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 1.5 and up: at least 202 in the 60 days after this one and at least 200 in the 30 days before it.

After

The first 60 of at least 202.

Before

Earthquakes todayNevada earthquakesLive radar here

Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event nn00727479 (also filed as us70009j2j). Read Fri, Oct 2, 2026, 11:40 AM UTC.