Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance in informing the local communities is appreciated.
The survey will be conducted from November 3, , for approximately 11 months, weather and wildfire restrictions permitting. Flights will cover areas within Washington, Iron and Beaver counties. The flights will not include the reservation lands of the Paiute Tribe of Utah. The flights could shift with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessitated by adverse flying conditions.
The purpose of the survey is to provide images that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology underpinning important mineral-rich regions, including the Iron Axis and Tutsagubet mining districts.
These areas are known to contain critical mineral resources, and the data will give a better understanding of those resources, as well as potential energy and groundwater resources and even potential geologic hazards like seismic faults. The new geophysical data will aid in the development of three-dimensional representations of bedrock composition and structure to depths more than 3, feet 1 kilometer below the surface.
The 3D models and maps are important for improving our understanding of critical mineral resource potential, water resources, groundwater pathways near legacy mining areas, parameters for infrastructure and land use planning and potential risks of naturally occurring radon. The airplane and helicopter will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground at about feet meters above the surface.
