MENOMINEE TOWNSHIP -- One expert believes a small earthquake may have caused the large crevice to appear in Menominee Township last week.
Professor of Geophysical Engineering at Michigan Tech, Wayne Pennington, visited the site Sunday. Although he's still investigating the findings, he believes a small earthquake may have caused the crevice. The large crevice, which is up to five feet deep in spots, was found last Tuesday by the property owners.
Pennington feels the crevice itself isn't the most remarkable thing, it's the ridge it created.
"I think what's interesting here is there is enough stress built up to cause this sort of an event, a shortening," said Professor Pennington. "It's probably shortened the crust in that area by two, three or four feet. I think that's going to surprise many of us."
Pennington plans to write something up and send it to other geologists for input. He hopes to hear back within a few weeks.
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