New Madrid earthquakes are centered in a plate interior, meaning they were intraplate earthquakes.
Explanation:
The 1811-1812 new madrid earthquakes were different from most california earthquakes because the New Madrid earthquakes were centered in a North American plate interior caused by stress within the plates.
The New Madrid earthquakes often referred to as the "Tecumseh's Comet" was the biggest earthquake in America history.
If they were farther apart they would be able to slip by through which means that it can go by faster. If the atoms where closer together then yes they would be able to go by slower.