Source : Perth Now news
An earthquake has struck the NSW Central Tablelands right next to a gold mine where workers were forced to take shelter underground due to a larger quake just two months ago.
The latest quake hit southwest of Orange, beginning about 7.40pm on Thursday and culminating about 5.40am.
The earthquake was 3.4 magnitude and only 1km deep, Geoscience Australia data shows, with 110 people reporting feeling the quake. Most people reported only weak to light tremors. Shaking was reported as far as 65km away, and a few people made ‘moderate’ to ‘strong’ reports to Geoscience Australia.
Online, people are saying they felt their houses “move slightly”, while others say they felt and heard the incident.
“Slept through it in Bathurst,” one person posted.
The quake epicentre was right next to Newmont’s huge Cadia gold and copper mine.
In April, a 4.5 magnitude quake hit a similar area, forcing workers at the mine to take shelter underground.
Soon after, a Newmont spokesperson said there were no injuries. Workers returned to the surface safely in the following hours, and there was no significant damage to any underground areas. Thousands of people reported feeling this quake, as tremors cracked the bricks in house walls.
Newmont has been contacted for comment about this latest earthquake.
