ST LOUIS (LALATE) – A Missouri earthquake today 2012 has struck south of St Louis. The Missouri earthquake today September 3, 2012 erupted in the early morning hours and was centered close to Marston, south of Cape Girardeau. The quake, however, is prompting debate if the New Madrid Fault was impacted by today’s activity.

A 2.6 magnitude quake erupted today in Missouri, USGS indicates to news. The quake, however, had virtually no depth. USGS puts the quake only five miles below the earth’s surface. The quake, as a result, could be felt across the immediate area.

USGS reports that the quake was four miles from Marston and six miles from Howardville. The quake, however, was only seven miles from New Madrid and one hundred fifty-three miles from St Louis.

The New Madrid Fault was most active in the latter half of the 1800s. “It is said the shock of an earthquake was felt in Kaskaskia in 1804, but I did not perceive it. The shocks continued for years in Illinois, and some have experienced it this year, 1855.”