3.5 Magnitude Quake Rumbles Near Cherokee

Another day, another earthquake around the area of Grant County.

The latest quake, a 3.5 magnitude, was recorded at 6:27 p.m. It was located 16 miles east of the town of Cherokee, Okla., or about 92 miles north northwest of the Oklahoma City metro, at a depth of about three miles.

Just after 11:00 p.m., a 3.6 magnitude was recorded near the same area.

The area around these quakes has seen a lot of seismic activity lately. So much so, that the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has urged the shutdown of seven wastewater disposal wells; four near the Byron-Cherokee area and three near Medford.

Some scientists say injection of massive amounts of the byproduct of oil and gas production -- chemical-laced wastewater -- deep into the earth has induced the quakes.

So far there have been no reports of damage or injuries reported with either quake.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), earthquakes with magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 3.0 are generally the smallest ones felt by humans. Damage is more likely with quakes at magnitudes of 4.0 and higher.