17 Geological Surveys and Resource Mapping/Evaluation Studies
This session highlights studies from state geologic surveys and the U.S. Geological Survey regarding natural resource evaluations. We welcome submissions with relevance to critical minerals, rare earth elements, various energy sectors, and the construction industry.
Tuesday, 10 March 2026
8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
RCC, 103
High resolution (< 5 m) airborne hyperspectral surveys of select critical and industrial mineral targets in the conterminous United States and Puerto Rico: Newly acquired Earth MRI datasets for district-scale mine waste and geologic hazards studies
Paper number: 17-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:43 AM – 9:58 AM
Authors
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Raymond KokalyUS Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, MS 973, Denver, CO
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Todd HoefenUS Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, MS 973, , Denver, CO
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Evan CoxUS Geological Survey, Denver Federal Center, MS 973, Denver, CO
Abstract
Acquisition of high-resolution (< 5 m/pixel) hyperspectral (i.e., “imaging spectrometer”) data is one of several components of the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). These high-resolution datasets were flown under contract using several commercial sensors. For example, the AISA-FENIX sensor collects solar reflectance data between the visible to shortwave infrared wavelengths (i.e., ~400 to 2500 nm). It was coupled with either the AISA-OWL or MAKO sensors, both of which collect emissivity data at thermal infrared wavelengths (i.e., ~8,000 and 14,000 nm). Most of these datasets overlap with recently acquired airborne geophysical data. Together they provide synergies for assessing the recovery potential of critical materials.
The resulting airborne survey areas of interest (AOIs) range in size from ~188 km^2 (targeting the REE-bearing Pea Ridge, MO iron-oxide-apatite-copper-gold mine, aka IOA-IOCG) up to ~2,998 km^2 (targeting a large and potentially REE-bearing phospho-gypsum mining area east of Tampa, FL). The remaining AOIs include ~1,796 km^2 covering Silver City mining district in NM, ~1,742 km^2 covering Morenci mine and tailings in AZ, and a ~576 km^2 AOI covering Santa Rita mine in NM. All three regions are within the Arizona-New Mexico Porphryry Copper Belt containing critical elements and minerals such as Co, Ni, As, REEs, Bi, W, Te, fluorite and Zn. A ~768 km^2 survey was flown over exposed heavy mineral sand areas mined in eastern FL as well as a ~761 km^2 AOI covering additional REE-bearing phospho-gypsum waste areas in the northern FL panhandle south of GA. In NM, a ~493 km^2 AOI was flown north of the Silver City and Santa Rita AOIs to cover National Forest areas known to be affected by acid-mine drainage. Three AOIs were flown in Puerto Rico for mapping industrial minerals related to limestone quarries near Ponce (~392 km^2), a nickel-laterite zone near Mayaguez (~193 km^2) and hurricane-induced landslide-affected areas in a central mountain zone near the town of Jayuya (~189 km^2). Finally, exposed tailings and chat piles from two Mississippi ValleyType mining areas (Tar Creek, OK & KS, and Old Leadbelt mining district in eastern MO) were covered by ~286 and ~334 km^2 surveys, respectively. Mine waste from one of these areas contain the Ge-bearing Zn-silicate mineral hemimorphite, which is spectrally detectable.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411733
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