GREENBRIER, Ark. (AP) — The U.S. Geological Survey has recorded a preliminary magnitude-3.1 earthquake near Greenbrier in central Arkansas.
The quake was recorded at 7:20 a.m. Saturday three miles northeast of Greenbrier — about 35 miles north of Little Rock. Greenbrier police say there weren't any reports of injuries or damage. A magnitude-2.2 quake was recorded in the same area 20 minutes later.
Seismologists have recorded some 1,000 quakes in the region since September — including a magnitude 4.7 in February that was the strongest earthquake recorded in Arkansas in 35 years.
The latest quakes come after two natural gas exploration companies — Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp. and Clarita Operating LLC — agreed this week to keep two nearby injection wells shutdown as researchers study whether the operations are linked to the quakes.
©2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
