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The study, published Tuesday in Seismological Research Letters, reports that fracking waste injection wells are now the leading cause of earthquakes in Texas. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves thrusting chemicals and water against shale rock to break it up and release oil or gas. The process produces large amounts of waste fluid, or brine, that is either recycled or disposed of in injection wells.
There are two main ways of measuring earthquakes: The first is by measuring the amount of energy released underground, and the second is by measuring the effects above ground. Measuring earthquakes âº What causes an earthquake? âº âº Earthquakes are caused by sudden movements deep in Earthâs crust. What causes an earthquake?