I understand. Certain scientific concepts can be off-putting.

The scientific consensus from seismologists is that the upper layer of the Earth's surface (the lithosphere) is divided into tectonic plates, and the shifting of these plates is the cause of many earthquakes.

However, there are other types of earthquakes not caused by the shifting of tectonic plates. An earthquake is simply a shaking of the ground, so anything powerful enough to shake the ground can be the cause of an earthquake. A few known examples are volcanic activity, large underground blasts used for mining, and nuclear tests.
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