Have you felt or heard mysterious booming in Maryville?

Many residents have shown concern due to booming felt and heard in Maryville. The Maryville Police Department said that when the booms occurred, “The whole building shook.”

Tuckaleechee Caverns has a seismograph, and manager Ben Vananda said the boom registered a a shallow earthquake — two or less — near the Blount County Justice Center and Blount County Hospital area.

Early Friday, the United States Geological Survey earthquake map confirmed a 2.1 earthquake just off Union Grove Road near Union Grove middle and elementary schools at 12:57 p.m. in Friendsville.

Then, late Friday evening, the USGS released an update, saying the University of Memphis determined that a quarry blast caused the magnitude 1.9 earthquake.

Carl VanHoozier, Community Relations Manager at Vulcan Materials Company, a quarry in Blount County, called WVLT News Friday night. He said, “The USGS is absolutely incorrect. There was no quarry blast today, or anytime this week. A 2.1 earthquake is pretty extreme. Our blasts are controlled and small. It’s an earthquake, it’s not a quarry blast.”

VanHoozier told WVLT News he planned to reach out to the USGS to determine the source of the discrepancy in information. He said Vulcan strives to be a good community neighbor.

The City of Maryville said several calls were received after the initial boom around 1 p.m. The city is calling it an “earthquake-like event.”

“We have not found any visible evidence of a surface blast and we can confirm it was not a result of a quarry blast. Local seismographs indicate a possible earthquake. However, we do not know for sure the cause of the event. Officials from the US Geological Survey will need to make that determination,” The city said in a statement earlier on Friday before the USGS earthquake was confirmed. “We expect to receive communication from the Emergency Management staff when the cause of the event is determined.”

At about 2 p.m., the booming occurred again near Maryville City High School. A school representative said that it was felt by students and staff alike near the high school and Sam Houston School.