Radiometric data collected via walking surveys at mine waste sites in New Mexico
Radiometric data (gamma ray spectrometry) were collected over four mine waste sites in New Mexico by walking while carrying a portable handheld meter in June 2024. These data were collected to support airborne surveys using a small uncrewed airborne system (sUAS) by providing independent gamma ray spectrometry measurements over parts of those survey areas that could be accessed safely on foot. This effort is part of the 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 and characterize areas that may have the potential to contain critical mineral resources. Surveys were conducted using a Gamma Surveyor Vario meter set in a continuous data collection mode where detected gamma ray spectra are averaged over 30-second intervals and used to estimate concentrations of K, Th, and U. Locations were determined using a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx handheld meter that was connected to the Gamma Surveyor Vario via a serial port to synchronize the GPS and gamma ray measurements. Locations were recorded at the end of each 30-second internal. Measurements were collected from a height of about 1 meter above ground.
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Complete Metadata
| @type | dcat:Dataset |
|---|---|
| accessLevel | public |
| bureauCode |
[ "010:12" ] |
| contactPoint |
{ "fn": "Anjana K. Shah", "@type": "vcard:Contact", "hasEmail": "mailto:ashah@usgs.gov" } |
| description | Radiometric data (gamma ray spectrometry) were collected over four mine waste sites in New Mexico by walking while carrying a portable handheld meter in June 2024. These data were collected to support airborne surveys using a small uncrewed airborne system (sUAS) by providing independent gamma ray spectrometry measurements over parts of those survey areas that could be accessed safely on foot. This effort is part of the 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 and characterize areas that may have the potential to contain critical mineral resources. Surveys were conducted using a Gamma Surveyor Vario meter set in a continuous data collection mode where detected gamma ray spectra are averaged over 30-second intervals and used to estimate concentrations of K, Th, and U. Locations were determined using a Garmin GPSMAP 60CSx handheld meter that was connected to the Gamma Surveyor Vario via a serial port to synchronize the GPS and gamma ray measurements. Locations were recorded at the end of each 30-second internal. Measurements were collected from a height of about 1 meter above ground. |
| distribution |
[ { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Digital Data", "format": "XML", "accessURL": "https://doi.org/10.5066/P1O2SD5T", "mediaType": "application/http", "description": "Landing page for access to the data" }, { "@type": "dcat:Distribution", "title": "Original Metadata", "format": "XML", "mediaType": "text/xml", "description": "The metadata original format", "downloadURL": "https://data.usgs.gov/datacatalog/metadata/USGS.69498976d4be02509472e04c.xml" } ] |
| identifier | http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/USGS_69498976d4be02509472e04c |
| keyword |
[ "Blackhawk mining district", "Earth Mapping Resources Initiative", "EarthMRI", "GGGSC", "Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center", "Hillsboro mining district", "MRP", "Mineral Resources Program", "New Mexico", "U.S. Geological Survey", "USGS", "USGS:69498976d4be02509472e04c", "critical minerals", "geoscientificInformation", "geospatial datasets", "mine waste", "mineral resources", "radiometric surveying", "uncrewed airborne systems" ] |
| modified | 2026-05-05T00:00:00Z |
| publisher |
{ "name": "U.S. Geological Survey", "@type": "org:Organization" } |
| spatial | -108.5104, 32.7208, -107.4970, 32.9689 |
| theme |
[ "geospatial" ] |
| title | Radiometric data collected via walking surveys at mine waste sites in New Mexico |
