The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and NASA have announced an addition to what they describe as the world's largest airborne hyperspectral survey — a sweeping aerial mapping effort designed to locate critical mineral deposits across the American West from an altitude of roughly 12 miles above the surface.

The survey is conducted under the USGS's Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) and forms part of the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx), a joint USGS-NASA program. To date, the campaign has covered approximately 400,000 square miles of western United States territory. Survey flights are operated by NASA's ER-2 high-altitude aircraft out of Colorado Springs, with the current mission running from April 1 through May 20, weather permitting.

The ER-2 carries instruments measuring dozens to hundreds of wavelengths of light — including ultraviolet, short-wave infrared, and thermal infrared — reflected off the Earth's surface. Scientists at the USGS then analyze these so-called "spectral fingerprints" to identify minerals. A final ground-truthing step involves geologists using backpack-mounted spectrometers to verify findings in the field. Last month, USGS geologist Erik Tharalson investigated an anomaly from a previous flight that could be related to a porphyry copper deposit. "It's a large outcrop of volcanic rocks, but the minerals in it would be easy to miss. That's why the hyperspectral survey is so critically important," Tharalson said.

The program's strategic backdrop is underscored by U.S. import dependency figures. According to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, the United States relied on imported sources for all of the titanium it used last year, and at least 75% of its aluminum and 41% of its nickel — all three of which appear on the 2025 List of Critical Minerals. Notably, the ER-2 aircraft itself is primarily constructed from aluminum, nickel, and titanium.

USGS Director Ned Mamula highlighted the initiative's historical continuity, noting that the USGS has been mapping U.S. mineral resources since 1879, and that the 60-year USGS-NASA partnership has yielded benefits ranging from lunar mapping for Apollo and Artemis missions to the Landsat program. Assistant Secretary of the Interior Andrea Travnicek stated that "regaining America's mineral independence takes a united effort starting with world-leading USGS mineral science and NASA aeronautics."

Earth MRI works with the geological surveys of Colorado and 44 other states, as well as educational institutions and industry partners. Beyond mineral identification, the data yields applications including detailed information on water availability and geologic hazards such as landslides. All Earth MRI data is made publicly available in line with USGS Fundamental Science Practices and Executive Order 14303.

Colorado Geological Survey Director Matt Morgan, also president of the American Association of State Geologists, said the campaign "can improve our understanding of critical mineral resources, water systems, and geologic hazards while supporting future geologic mapping and scientific research."

This article is based on a verified primary source. The text was editorially reviewed prior to publication.