Final Report on the Sheldon Earthquake swarm in 2014/15

[SwordfishMining]

While swarm seismicity is not uncommon in the Basin and Range and Walker Lane Provinces, recent activity near Sheldon National Antelope Refuge is by far the most energetic and persistent earthquake swarm in Nevada recorded history. We felt the bigger ones at the mines which are about 25 miles away. Activity began in July 2014 and has continued to present, including over 20 earthquakes greater than or equal to M4 and over 200 greater than or equal to M3. The total moment magnitude for the so-called Sheldon sequence is greater than Mw5.3, as of early September 2015.
The cliff we drive down going to the West to Lakeveiw Oregon is right above the Y in Guano Valley. That one, any sized boulder would sweep you off the non guard railed cliff or you and the road both. You can see the road as a faint line; Doherty Slide.
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/General?news=10

[rocks2dust]

I didn't realize the quakes were next to rte 140 - that long drive up that cliff face is scary enough even without considering rocks from a quake! Road is nice enough, but it gets to be a long way down.

[SwordfishMining]

Yes thats the problem there. I hate seeing it in winter with clouds halfway up. I know ice is hidden there or snow. I may drive Subarus just for the traction sensation. I did do the first few years in an MX-6 front wheel drive.
Bitner Butte is almost due south of Doherty Slide and Virgin Valley is East. As you are driving down 8A from Cedarville the Massacre Lake sign(claimed massacre disappeared, and now there is one to the top of Bitner Butte a bit further. There is some precious opal casts that come out over that side of the field too I've been told. May still be on refuge where digging is prohibited tho. Catnip Mtn was marked on some maps. It does have an obsidian flow on the valley side of the mountain up the rd that goes up the creek off 8A. I wasn't impressed over anything from Davis Cr. No color flash, pretty much one hole and its got froth inclusions. Not that there are not other glasses around the area out of rhyolite flows. I was also reading this was made in that year, there were still more not on that map.