Earthquakes Canada has officially confirmed that a magnitude 3.5 earthquake that was widely felt in Greater Sudbury on Friday morning was triggered by mining operations in the area. The earthquake occurred at 11:20 a.m. ET and was traced back to the Creighton Mine near the community of Lively in Greater Sudbury. Vale, the mining company, stated in an email to CBC News that all employees were safe, accounted for, and that all necessary protocols were followed.
According to Claire Perry, an earthquake seismologist with Earthquakes Canada, the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth between one and 10 kilometers, indicating its connection to mining activities. Another earthquake of magnitude 2.9 earlier in the week also originated at the Creighton Mine. Perry noted that Sudbury is not typically prone to natural earthquakes, and seismic events in the area are usually tied to nearby industrial operations.
Mining-induced earthquakes are generally less severe than natural earthquakes and are unlikely to result in significant damage, as per Perry’s assessment.
