Earthquakes Canada has confirmed that a magnitude 3.5 earthquake felt widely across Greater Sudbury on Friday morning was induced by mining activity in the area.
The earthquake happened at 11:20 a.m. ET.
In an email to CBC News, mining company Vale said the earthquake originated at its Creighton Mine, near the Greater Sudbury community of Lively.
“All employees are safe and accounted for and all established protocols were followed,” the email said.
Claire Perry, an earthquake seismologist with Earthquakes Canada, told CBC News the earthquake happened at a shallow depth between one and 10 kilometres.
“That gives us an indication that it is in fact a mining related event,” she said.
A magnitude 2.9 earthquake earlier in the week also originated at the Creighton Mine.
“Sudbury itself is not really a highly active region for natural earthquakes,” Perry said. “So usually when we do hear of earthquakes in the region, they are related to the industrial activities close by.”
Perry said that mining-induced earthquakes are typically less powerful than natural earthquakes, and are unlikely to cause any significant damage.
