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USGS To Survey Underground Faults In Southern Virginia

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Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey are working to map the underground faults in Virginia that caused last year's earthquake.

Over the next ten days, the USGS will be sending a low-flying airplane over Virginia's Louisa, Goochland and Fluvanna counties. On board are instruments to measure gravitational and magnetic pull at different sites. WVIR-TV in Virginia reports that the data collected will let the USGS refine its estimates of the seismic hazard facing the region. 

The agency says it's the first time in the U.S. that airborne gravity is being used to map a seismic hazard.

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake that struck August 23, 2011 was centered in Louisa County, but shook much of the East Coast and damaged landmarks including the Washington Monument and the Washington National Cathedral.

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