October 21, 2026
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, a low-level airborne geophysical survey, was showcased in a fly-in event in partnership with the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) at the Belen Regional Airport on September 30.
The surveys utilize a specialized aircraft equipped with advanced magnetic and radiometric sensors to gather data about the geology of Earth’s surface and subsurface.
Data from the surveys will help identify geologic systems associated with critical minerals, while also supporting groundwater management, geothermal exploration, and understanding geologic hazards.
“New Mexico is a water-limited state. We cannot effectively manage groundwater if we do not understand the rocks, faults, basins, and structures that control where our water occurs and how it moves in the subsurface,” New Mexico Bureau of Geology Director and State Geologist Mike Timmons said at the event. “We are not simply mapping rocks; we are building the geologic knowledge base that New Mexico will need to manage its land, energy, and mineral resources for decades to come,”
Because the information is publicly available, Timmons said it can serve scientists, water managers, industry, communities, and policymakers.
USGS Associate Mineral Resource Program Coordinator Tanya J. Gallegos noted that the mapping project has gathered airborne magnetic and radiometric data across nearly a third of the United States, spanning 45 states since 2019.
“These data aren’t just for minerals. We can also use these data to better understand our other natural resources, like groundwater, energy resources, and even understand where we might find hazards across the landscape,” Gallegos said.
V.J.S. Grauch, USGS geophysicist and technical lead for the survey, said the magnetic measurements can help identify rock types and faults beneath the surface, while radiometric measurements can detect deposits of naturally occurring minerals containing radioactive elements like uranium, potassium, and thorium in surface rocks.
To ensure high resolution, aircraft must maintain a consistent elevation above the ground using pre-planned surfaces to account for rugged topography. Once data collection concludes, the raw signals will be processed into clear datasets and reviewed by technical leads before being made public for a wide variety of practical applications.
To learn more about the Earth Mapping Resource Initiative, visit https://www.usgs.gov/news/state-news-release/media-alert-low-level-airplane-and-helicopter-flights-scan-geology-over
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is a nonregulatory research and service division of New Mexico Tech and serves as the state’s geological survey. Bureau of Geology scientists study and provide information about the state’s natural geologic resources and hazards.