Just after 5am this morning, Mineral, Virginia was once again rocked by an earthquake — this time a 3.4-magnituder. NBC Washington has the details:

The Louisa County Sheriff's Office said that there were no reports of damage or injuries after the latest aftershock. One resident near Mineral told News4 that Thursday's quake sent his cat running for cover, but a check of the house showed no damage.

NBC reports that there have already been at least 20 aftershocks in the area since last week's earthquake. Clearly this is just a precursor to the return of the "Blue Ridge Brood" of cicadas next year and beyond that, the End Times.

[NBCWashington; image via Flickr/markscott]