Airborne electromagnetic and magnetic survey of the western Mojave Desert, California, 2024

Airborne electromagnetic (AEM) and magnetic survey data were collected during November 4–20, 2024 over a distance of 3,251 line kilometers in the western Mojave Desert, California. These data were collected in support of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), which aims to improve knowledge of the geologic framework of the United States through new geological and geophysical mapping and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain critical mineral resources. Data were acquired by SkyTEM Canada Inc. using the SkyTEM312 time-domain helicopter-borne electromagnetic system together with a Geometrics G822A cesium vapor magnetometer. The survey was flown at a nominal flight height of 35 meters (m) above terrain along parallel flight lines oriented southwest–northeast with nominal line spacing of 1,000 m and 3,000 m. A test line was flown on November 3, 2024, prior to production. Two systems were utilized for production: the first from November 3–8, 2024, and the second from November 16–23, 2024.

This data release includes minimally processed (raw) AEM and raw/processed magnetic data. These data are provided in a NetCDF format (*.nc) following the GSPy convention described by James and others (2022) and Foks and others (2022). The database structure and variables are described in a text-formatted metadata file (*.ncml) as well as embedded within the NetCDF file.

References cited:
Foks, N. L., James, S. R., and Minsley, B. J. (2022). GSPy: Geophysical data standard in Python. U.S. Geological Survey software release. https://doi.org/10.5066/P9XNQVGQ
James SR, Foks NL and Minsley BJ (2022) GSPy: A new toolbox and data standard for Geophysical Datasets. Frontiers in Earth Science 10:907614. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.907614