4.0 magnitude quake rattles Lincoln again early Monday

Western Montana was rattled again by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake early Monday morning, a fitting sequel to the 5.8 magnitude quake that shook the region less than two weeks ago.

The latest temblor was centered near Lincoln and struck roughly seven miles deep just before 3 a.m., according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

On July 6, the strongest earthquake recorded in Montana since 1964 hit the same region, shaking residents from Spokane to Billings.

That has set off more than 1,500 aftershocks, according to a research geologist at the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in Butte.

Last week, researchers said the original temblor was followed by reports of increased flows from a natural springs near Nevada Lake. The USGS has deployed three temporary measurement stations to the quake's epicenter.

Monday's early-morning temblor was the second strongest to hit since the original quake, according to USGS data.