Blasting at a quarry sent tremors through the western suburbs shortly after noon today, causing buildings to shake and many people to believe they had been hit by an earthquake, officials said. The blasting was strong enough to register 3.2 on seismographs. But the U.S. Geological Survey said the wave patterns do not match those from a quake. Based on what theyve looked at, were pretty sure its from a blast, said Paul Caruso, a geophysicist with the Survey. It is not an earthquake. The Survey initially reported the magnitude as 3.7 and added it on a list of earthquakes. But it later reduced the magnitude to 3.2 and added: Quarry blast. The epicenter appeared to be about two miles south/southwest from LaGrange, which would put it close to the McCook quarry at 5500 Joliet Road. Seismographs recorded a seismic event with a 3.2 magnitude around 12:30 p.m., which Caruso said was likely from blasting. “This is a very large event for a quarry blast or a mining blast,” Caruso said. Anything above a 2.5 magnitude can be felt, he said, and a 5.5 magnitude can cause damage. He said the blast was felt as far north as Kenosha Wis.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 20:52:51 +0000
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