MOUNTAINVILLE, N.J. — A newly discovered fault line beneath New Jersey has sparked fresh concerns following an April earthquake that reverberated across the Northeast, scientists confirmed Monday.
It is being called the Mountainville fault line as researchers continue collecting data.
The 4.8-magnitude earthquake, which rattled areas from Virginia to Maine, led geologists to uncover the fault line near Mountainville. The tremor’s unusual patterns — minimal shaking near the epicenter but stronger effects farther out — prompted researchers at Columbia University to investigate.
“In the eastern U.S., nearly every earthquake teaches us something new,” a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist explained in a statement, noting the rarity of such discoveries in the region.
More than 80 seismometers were deployed across the state after the April 5 quake, allowing scientists to better monitor aftershocks, including a 1.6-magnitude tremor reported just days ago.
While experts emphasize the low likelihood of significant earthquakes in the area, the discovery highlights gaps in understanding seismic activity in the eastern United States.
This fault line discovery underlines the unpredictable nature of East Coast seismicity.