Hi Chris. I don't think a geomagnetic storm causes a quake that wasn't close to occurring in the first place. I feel that a X1 may have a greater affect if it made a direct impact with the earth then an X15 would have with a glancing impact. Of course this depends on the area of impact. If there is nothing there to begin with, then there won't be a quake. The other thing of course is that there is no way it can be proven that the quake wouldn't have occurred without a geomagnetic storm.

Knowing how mush stress is in a given area, and how close it is to breaking is the key. Unfortunately the current technology doesn't exist for anyone to be able to know that. The closest we come to that at present time are the mini PBOs in the Bay Area, but it has never been put to the test. In theory it works, but that’s not quite the same as the real thing. Take Care…Don in creepy town