Images

Reference reflectance site, a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. The Hyperspectral Imaging of Mineral Resources from New and Old Origins project is using such sites to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.

USGS scientists Todd Hoefen (left) and John Meyer (right) make spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.

A helicopter with a boom that contains sensitive equipment for conducting airborne geophysical surveys.

Airborne geophysical surveys make use of a boom with sensitive equipment installed on small aircraft.

The short video is of a post laser ablation crater using a nanosecond 193nm laser ablation system of a glass slide using a 210 micron spot diameter and 250 shots.  It shows a flat bottom crater indicative of a homogenized laser beam, though the measured diameter of the crater appears to be 25 microns smaller the diameter set.  The 3D crater image was creat

USGS scientist Todd Hoefen makes spectral measurements with a field portable spectrometer at a remote playa in Black Rock Desert, NV. These measurements are used to calibrate and validate data collected by imaging spectrometers (hyperspectral imagers) from aircraft and spacecraft.

Pre-historic Nez Perce trail from the Wallowa Mountains of Oregon to the Great Plains to hunt bison. Ponderosa pine shows scars from the harvesting of cambium as a food source on those trips.

Historic Bayhorse mining district millsite in foreground to thick dolostone cliffs of disputed age--either Lower Ordovician or Neoproterozoic, a difference in interpretations of about 100 million years ago. The Bayhorse Mining district was one of the longest-running silver and lead producers in Idaho.

Laser ablation sport sizes: 65 µm, 35 µm, 10 µm, 5 µm, and 3 µm. The resolution approaches 3 micron resolution for sulfur isotope ratios measurements in sulfides.

Multi Collector ICP Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) plasma shield upgrade between models NP2 to NP3 (Nu Instruments).

Survey area for low-flying helicopter soon to be visible in six Montana counties, including Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains, Bull Mountain and the Tobacco Root Mountains.

Helicopter conducting low-level flights. Image courtesy Sander Geophysics Ltd.

Geologists in the field at Pennington Mountain. The orange instrument is a portable gamma spectrometer. University of Maine-Presque Isle professor Chunzeng Wang (the lead author) is in front, Preston Bass is carrying the meter.

A helicopter rigged with an airborne geophysical survey collecting equipment. Information collected during these surveys can help with studying critical mineral resources, natural hazards and groundwater potential. A cow is here too.

A low-flying helicopter towing a geophysical device collects scientific data on groundwater and geology. Information collected during these surveys can help with studying critical mineral resources, natural hazards and groundwater potential.

View south of the Livingston fault zone which is more resistant to erosion because of brecciation and quartz-based mineralization common in the northeastern Colorado Mineral Belt. Location: Walker Ranch, Boulder County Open Space Park, Colorado.

Alaska Science Center geologist Doug Kreiner and University of Alaska, Fairbanks professor Sean Regan discuss the district-scale geology with the chief exploration geologist at Pogo Mine. This is a new collaborative study with USGS, UAF and Pogo Mine, to collaborate on unraveling the genesis of Pogo, an important producer of gold in Alaska with critical mi

Alaska Science Center geologist Doug Kreiner and University of Alaska, Fairbanks professor Sean Regan look at igneous textures in granitic rocks hosting gold at the Pogo gold mine with Pogo exploration geologists.

USGS geophysicist Stephanie James records notes as part of seismometer installation at Hall Ranch Open space, Boulder County, Colorado. The seismometer is the partially buried white rectangle near James’s feet. 

Exposure of breccia marking trace of normal fault. Clasts of country rock include Eocene granite dike materials and thus provide an age for the fault as Eocene or younger.

Bokan Mountain, Alaska.