Earthquake in the Loyalty Islands.

On Saturday 26 May 2012, slightly after 11.50 am local time (slightly after 0.50 GMT) the United States Geological Survey recorded an Earthquake in the Loyalty Islands (part of the French territory of New Caledonia) roughly 102 km northeast of Máre Island, at a depth of 10.1 km and measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale. This far from any inhabited area the quake is unlikely to have caused any damage or injuries, and may not have been noticed by anyone.

The location of the 26 May 2012 Earthquake. USGS.

New Caledonia is located on the North Bismarck Plate, one of a series of microplates caught between the Australian and Pacific Plates. To the north of the islands the Pacific Plate is being subducted beneath the North Bismark Plate, causing friction that can cause Earthquakes. As it sinks further into the planet the friction and the heat of the Earth's interior combine to melt the plate, some of the melted material rising through the overlying North Bismarck Plate to feed the volcanoes of the Loyalty Islands.

The location and movement of the North Bismarck and surrounding Plates. Oregon State University.

See also Eruption on Mount Pago, Earthquake in Vanuatu, Earthquake shakes New Britain, Earthquake shakes New Caledonia and Earthquakes on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.

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Earthquake shakes New Caledonia.

On Saturday 3 March 2012 at about 23.20 local time (12.20 GMT) the French Overseas Territory of New Caledonia was hit by an Earthquake roughly 175 km southeast of the Loyalty Islands. The quake was measured as 6.6 on the Richer Scale at a depth of 15.2 km by the United States Geological Survey and 6.7 on the Richter Scale at a depth of 46 km by Geoscience Australia. No tsunami warning has been issued and it is unlikely that there will be any serious damage or casualties, but the quake was probably felt from some of the neighboring islands.

Map showing the location of the quake, and the areas where it might have been felt. United States Geological Survey.

The Loyalty Islands are an island arc sitting above the New Hebrides Trench. The New Hebrides Plate is being subducted beneath the Australian Plate in the trench. As it sinks below the Australian Plate it creates friction, which is felt as Earthquakes. Such plate margins are typically associated with volcanic activity, as material from the subducted plate melts and rises up through the overlying plates as magma, forming volcanoes at the surface. The Loyalty Islands are volcanic in origin, but do not have any current volcanoes, indeed the islands are quite ancient by volcanic island standards, with some rocks dated to the Permian (225-280 million years ago.

See also Possible eruption on Tinakula, Series of Earthquakes shakes Vanuatu, Ash cloud reported over Karkar Island, north of Papua New Guinea, Earthquake in Vanuatu, 21 August 2011 and Earthquakes on Sciency Thoughts YouTube.