Low-Level Fixed Wing Aircraft Flights to Image Geology Over Parts of Texas

RESTON, Va. - Low-level fixed wing flights are planned over a broad region in western Texas to image geology using airborne geophysical technology. The survey will be conducted starting in December 2024 for approximately 10 months, weather and wildfire restrictions permitting.

Flights will cover areas within Brewster, Culberson, Hudspeth, Jeff Davis, Presidio, and Reeves counties in Texas.

The flights will likely be based out of the Van Horn, Marfa, and Alpine municipal airports. The flights could shift with little warning to other parts of the survey area as necessitated by adverse flying conditions.

A Cessna Turbo 206 will fly along pre-planned flight paths relatively low to the ground at about 300 feet (100 meters) above the surface. The ground clearance will be increased to 1,000 feet (300+ meters) over populated areas and will comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. Flights will follow east-west lines spaced about 650 feet (200 meters) apart and north-south lines about 6,560 feet (2 kilometer) apart.

The survey will use fixed wing aircraft equipped with an elongated "stinger" mounted to the tail, extending backward off the aircraft. Instruments in the stinger and inside the cabin will measure variations in the Earth's magnetic field and natural low-level gamma energy created by different rock types.

The scientific instruments on the aircraft are completely passive, with no emissions that pose a risk to humans, animals, or plant life. No photography or video data will be collected. The data collected will be made freely available to the public once complete. The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots who are specially trained and approved for low-level flying. The company contracted to fly the survey works with the FAA to ensure flights are safe and in accordance with U.S. law. The surveys will be conducted during daylight hours only.

The purpose of the survey is to provide images that expand the fundamental knowledge of geology underpinning the North American cordilleran alkaline-igneous belt. The area of interest covers numerous focus areas that are prospective for critical mineral resources and is designed to assist with the mapping of subsurface faults for earthquake hazard studies. The survey footprint is coordinated with the State Geological Survey of Texas. Funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has facilitated coverage of such a large area.

The new geophysical data will be processed to develop high-resolution two- and three-dimensional representations of bedrock composition and structure to depths more than 3,280 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 survey fits into a broader effort by the USGS, State Geological Survey of Texas, and many other state geological surveys and other partners, including private companies, academics, and state and federal agencies to modernize our understanding of the Nation's fundamental geologic framework and knowledge of mineral resources. This effort is known as the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, and it includes airborne geophysical surveys like this one, geochemical reconnaissance surveys, topographic mapping using LiDAR technology, hyperspectral surveys, and geologic mapping projects.

The USGS has contracted NV5 and Edcon-PRJ to collect data.

Read the full project announcement for this survey here.