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Low-level helicopter flights will survey Routt County geology

Low-level helicopter flights will survey land in Routt County starting in February 2025.
United States Geological Survey / Courtesy photo

The U.S. Geological Survey will be conducting low-level helicopter survey flights over northern Routt County and parts of Wyoming starting this month, according to a news release.

Funded by the federal agency’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, the flights will survey land areas for mineral resource assessments, regional geological framework, mapping studies and water resource investigations. The surveys are expected to conclude this summer.

The data will then be processed to develop three-dimensional representations of near-surface and below-the-surface geology maps.



The 3D 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,” according to the news release. 

Flights will cover areas within Albany, Carbon, Converse, Laramie and Platte counties in Wyoming and Jackson, Larimer and Routt counties in Colorado.



Low-level helicopter flights will survey land in Routt County starting this month.
United States Geological Survey / Courtesy photo

The helicopter, equipped with airborne electromagnetic survey technology, will fly pre-planned flight paths at around 100-200 feet above the ground.

A sensor that resembles a large hula-hoop will be towed beneath the helicopter to measure small electromagnetic signals that can be used to map geologic features.

According to the news release, ground clearance will comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The news release added that the flights will not pose a health risk to people, animals or plant life and no photography or video data will be collected. 

The data will be freely accessible to the public through the ScienceBase website one year after it is collected. 

The survey fits into a broader effort by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Wyoming State Geological Survey and the Colorado Geological Survey to better understand “geological framework and knowledge of mineral resources,” said the news release.


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