WSGS Releases Public Information Circular on Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming

 

Wyoming State Geological Survey

June 26, 2025

******FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE******

Media Contact:

Bryce Tugwell, Media and Communications Manager

bryce.tugwell@wyo.gov
Wyoming State Geological Survey

Office: (307) 745-2236

Cell: (307) 703-0761

http://wsgs.wyo.gov 

 

WSGS Releases Public Information Circular on Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming

LARAMIE, Wyo. — A new publication from the Wyoming State Geological Survey (WSGS) discusses recent acquisition of airborne magnetic, radiometric, and electromagnetic surveys in Wyoming. Geophysical surveys are key tools for geological mapping, mineral exploration, evaluating geological hazards, and better understanding the distribution of groundwater in the subsurface.

“I can’t emphasize enough the importance of these baseline, high-quality, publicly available geophysical data,” says WSGS Director and State Geologist Dr. Erin Campbell. “With the completion of these surveys, approximately 20 percent of Wyoming will be covered by Rank 1 data that will allow for interpretation of the framework geology, furthering our understanding of the geologic structure and mineralogic composition of Wyoming.”

The majority of the recent geophysical surveys in Wyoming involve the simultaneous collection of magnetic and radiometric data. These magnetic and radiometric datasets are particularly useful for locating certain types of critical mineral deposits. The airborne geophysical surveys discussed in this publication are either completed, currently being flown, or will be flown in the near future.

“Collection of these data has been a productive collaboration between the USGS and the WSGS,” added Campbell. “Our geoscientists are working together to identify the highest-priority areas in Wyoming in need of Rank 1 geophysical data. We are pleased to see that the mineral industry is already using the datasets for exploration.”

Airborne geophysical surveys measure physical properties of the earth using instruments mounted in aircraft that fly over a predetermined survey area. Airborne magnetic surveys measure the total magnetic field intensity as the aircraft flies in evenly spaced lines over the ground surface. These surveys can detect magnetic signals emanating from deep within the earth’s crust. Magnetic surveys can effectively map otherwise hidden geological variation, along with locating deposits rich in magnetic minerals, commonly associated with critical mineral deposits. Radiometric surveys measure gamma radiation released through the radioactive decay of potassium, thorium, and uranium within the top few centimeters of the ground surface. This type of survey can be used to constrain surficial geologic processes, along with mapping exposures of certain types of mineral deposits.

Public Information Circular 49, Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming: Methods for Exploring Subsurface Geology, provides an update on the current status and geographic distribution of airborne geophysical surveys in Wyoming. The circular also provides a broad overview of how these geophysical data are collected, and what the various types of data represent. Lastly, the publication discusses geophysical data from completed and published geophysical surveys that cover the South Pass–Granite Mountains region and the Medicine Bow Mountains.

This circular is available for free download from the Wyoming State Geological Survey website. The published geophysical data discussed in this publication can be downloaded from the U.S. Geological Survey’s website (South Pass–Granite Mountains, Medicine Bow Mountains).

 

Cover of Airborne Geophysics in Wyoming: Methods for Exploring Subsurface Geology

21–25 April 1944. First Helicopter Combat Rescue

21–25 April 1944

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, February 24, 1974. Advent of Fireforce,

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, February 24, 1974. Advent of Fireforce, g...: 

Sunday, February 24, 1974. Advent of Fireforce, getting mad at Confucious.

The Fireforce vertical envelopment tactic was used by the 1st Battalion of the Rhodesian Light Infantry in the first example of its use.  The tactic was developed as Rhodesian Aérospatiale Alouette III had a limited carrying capacity in comparison to the very large helicopters used by the US in similar roles.

Rhodesian Alouette III.

The use of aircraft outside of their original intended roles was fairly common in African wars of the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, February 24, 1924. Machines.

Lex Anteinternet: Sunday, February 24, 1924. Machines.: 

Sunday, February 24, 1924. Machines.

Mexican Federals defeated rebels in Tamaulipas.

The Berliner gyrocopter No. 5 gave its first successful demonstration.  U.S. Army Lt. Harold R. Harris flew it for one minutes and 20 seconds at the College Park Airport, near the University of Maryland, in front of the press and members of the U.S. Navy.

Harris has been mentioned here before due to his career as a test pilot.  He lived until 1988, dying at age 92.

The Beverly Hills Speedway hosted its final race, which was attended by 85,000 automobile racing fans.  Harlan Fengler broke the world's record for a 250 mile race, averaging 116.6 mph.

Fengler would go on to be the Chief Steward of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway from 1958 until 1974.  He passed away in 1981 at age 78.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday January 3, 1944. The Turner Explosion.

Lex Anteinternet: Monday January 3, 1944. The Turner Explosion.: 

Monday January 3, 1944. The Turner Explosion.

George C. Marshall was Time's Man Of The Year.

The USS Turner suffered a series of internal explosions while in harbor off of the Ambrose Light in New York.  138 of the 256-man crew died during the incident.  A Coast Guard Sikorsky HNS-1 flown by Lieutenant Commander Frank A. Erickson flew two cases of blood plasma, lashed to the helicopter's floats, from New York to Sandy Hook, saving many of the injured crewman, and providing the first incident of a helicopter used in that fashion.

Commander Frank A. Erickson, USCG and Dr. Igor Sikorsky, Sikorsky Helicopter HNS-1.  The HNS-1 had been in service for slightly under a year at this time.

Gregory "Pappy" Boyington was shot down and became a Prisoner of War of the Japanese.

Helicopter lifting linemen.

You have to look carefully to see them, but this helicopter (I don't know the model) is lifting two linemen to check the power line in the photograph.

Bell UH-1 with Nose Mount

This is a UH-1, a "Huey", in Casper, Wyoming painted in old Vietnam War era camouflage.  It's fitted with a nose mount, which can house cameras and electronic devices.  Nose mounts were fitted to UH-1s during the Vietnam War, and they continue to be offered for commercial UH-1s.

The odd thing about this helicopter is that even though it retains the USAF or US Army Vietnam era camouflage scheme, it lacks national markings, which most surplus aircraft which retain military paint schemes do.  Additionally, I could not see a registration number on it anywhere.  That may be because I took this photograph from a distance, with an iPhone, and it could be painted in black on the dark green aft of the helicopter.  It obviously should have this painted on it.

When I happened to arrive at the airport on the day this photo was taken, a crew was standing by it as the refueling truck was getting ready, and they were having their photograph taken.  I thought they were a military crew, but I wasn't paying much attention.  UH-1s are no longer in common US use, but the UH-1N is still used by the USAF in connection with nuclear missiles and missile silos, and that variant does in fact often have the nose mount fitting, although it should have USAF markings and this old camouflage scheme would be a surprise.

Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, January 13, 1942. Things that fly.

Lex Anteinternet: Tuesday, January 13, 1942. Things that fly.:   

Tuesday, January 13, 1942. Things that fly.

 

On this day in 1942, a German test pilot became the first individual to deploy an ejection seat.

You can read more about that here:

13 January 1942

On the same day, the Sikorsky R4 flew for the first time.

The helicopter was produced through 1944, with 131 examples being made.  One was used for the first combat rescue of wounded men, in Burma, in 1944.

Bell UH-1. Downtown Laramie, Wyoming.

 

Lex Anteinternet: February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1,

Lex Anteinternet: February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1, ship...: 

February 18, 1921. Œhmichen helicopter no 1, ships, Egyptian self rule, and Argentine arms.

The early history of the helicopter is complicated, and therefore capable of dispute.  Most early flights weren't that, but hops.  

This is the first "lift" of an Œhmichen helicopter. The gas bags were for stabilization.  Obviously, this would have been a completely useless design but it was pioneering, and the inventor went on to some significant developments in helicopter features.  Etienne Œhmichen was a biologist by training and employment.

Lex Anteinternet: Last night, I had a dream in which

Last night, I had a dream in which

a Chinook helicopter, which was very beat up, was landing.

That's all I recall about it.

Odd how that works.

Lex Anteinternet: Apollo 12 Returns to Earth. November 24, 1969

Lex Anteinternet: Apollo 12 Returns to Earth. November 24, 1969:

Apollo 12 Returns to Earth. November 24, 1969

Apollo 12 and the USS Hornet.

On this day in 1969, the Apollo 12 crew rode their module back down to Earth.

The recovery was affected by the USS Hornet, the U.S. Navy's aircraft carrier that famously was used in World War Two.  The Hornet had been commissioned in 1943, decommissioned in 1947, and then recommissioned with a new angled flight deck 1953. At the time of her recommissioning she was a small aircraft carrier and she was decommissioned again in 1970, just the following year after this mission.  She was struck from the roles in 1989 and is now a museum ship in Alameda, California.

The Apollo 12 mission was a successful one, particularly in light of its frightening start when the Saturn rockets were struck twice by lightening during the launch.  Seismographers were left on the moon when the lunar capsule was launched back to the orbiting module and the launching apparatus' vibrations on the surface of the moon lasted for over an hour.

Sky Aviation Boeing CH-46 Chinooks. Worland Airport

A collection of CH-46s in Worland Wyoming.  These belong to the fire fighting company, Sky Aviation.

Sikorsky MH-60T Jayhawk, Natrona County International Airport

Sikorsky S-92A

Eurocopter UH-72

 

This is a Eurocopter UH-72 of the Wyoming Army National Guard.  The UH-72 Lakota is made Airbus and is a general utility helicopter.

Eagle Copters UH-1, Casper Wyoming

Old and new. Helicopter crosses in front of Ford Trimotor

Helicopters of Washington D.C.

Helicopters of Washington D.C.

 Attack helicopter.

Marine Corps One.

Pacific Aviation Museum: Sikorsky H3 Sea King

Pacific Aviation Museum: Sikorsky H3 Sea King