A new geophysical dataset is providing researchers with a detailed view beneath east-central Idaho, revealing the region’s subsurface geology. The U.S. Geological Survey released the dataset on May 7 in collaboration with the Idaho Geological Survey, which is part of the University of Idaho’s Office of Research and Economic Development.
The release is significant because it offers scientists and decision-makers new information about areas that may contain critical mineral resources. The data were collected using low-flying aircraft equipped with sensors that measure small changes in Earth’s magnetic field and natural radiation from rocks, helping to map underground features.
“This type of data helps us understand what’s happening below the surface,” said Claudio Berti, state geologist and director of the Idaho Geological Survey. “By combining magnetic and radiometric signals, we can identify different rock types, inform our geologic mapping at the surface and build a much clearer picture of the subsurface.”
The new data build on a previous U.S. Geological Survey survey from 2022 focused on the greater Idaho cobalt belt. Together, these datasets provide an unprecedented look at regional geology for both research and potential resource development purposes. The project was funded through the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI), a federal program aimed at improving knowledge about domestic mineral resources as interest grows in reducing reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals.
“Idaho has significant potential for critical mineral resources,” Berti said. “These data help identify areas that may warrant further study and give researchers, industry professionals and decision-makers better information to guide their work.”
Berti also said that while this dataset supports mineral exploration efforts, its applications are broader: “This work is funded largely because of strong interest in mineral exploration, but the applications are much broader… We use the same data to better understand faults, groundwater systems and the overall geology of the region.”
This marks the first time high-resolution airborne geophysical data have been made publicly available across this portion of Idaho—a resource previously accessible mainly to private industry. Researchers continue working in this area by conducting mapping projects that complement these new datasets.
“This is part of a larger push to bring modern data to areas where it has been lacking,” Berti said. “Better data ultimately supports better decisions — whether that’s for resource development, hazard mitigation or water management.”
