Minor Earthquake Detected in South Dakota

It was minor, but an earthquake hit South Dakota, east of Rapid City.

The U.S. Geological Survey said the temblor measuring 3.1 on the Richter Scale registered at 3:36 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7. Its center was about 17 miles west of Wall and 13 miles east-southeast of New Underwood.

Alvis Lisenbee, geology professor at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, said a quake that size would do little, if any, damage and that there have been no reports.

He said South Dakota typically gets an earthquake every two to three years, especially in the southern half of the state.

An estimated 11 earthquakes have hit the Black Hills in the last century.