According to a press release from the U.S. Geological Survey, helicopters will fly low over northern Colorado in the coming months to take geological surveys.

Starting in August, low-altitude helicopter flights are planned over much of northern Colorado to capture geological images using geophysical technologies, the news release said. The low-altitude flights will begin in August and are expected to last up to three months, weather and wildfire restrictions permitting, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The flights will cover parts of Boulder, Chafee, Clear Creek, Eagle, Gilpin, Grand, Jefferson, Lake, Larimer, Park and Summit counties, the release said. The first flights will reportedly depart from regional airports in Leadville and Longmont.

The helicopter will fly relatively low on predetermined flight paths at an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground. Over populated areas, ground clearance will be increased to 1,000 feet and will comply with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations, the press release said.

The purpose of the investigation, according to the press release, is to increase fundamental knowledge of the geology of a broad range of historic mining districts known as the Colorado Mineral Belt. The belt reportedly hosts several types of mineral resources, including critical minerals vital to the state’s security and economy.

The new geological data will be combined with geological maps from the Colorado Geological Survey and the U.S. Geological Survey to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of bedrock composition and structure to depths of more than 3,280 feet below the surface, the news release said.

The 3D models and maps are important for better understanding the potential of critical mineral resources, water resources, groundwater pathways near mining areas, parameters for infrastructure and land use planning, and potential risks from naturally occurring radon, the press release said.

The data will also answer scientific questions about Colorado’s 2 billion-year-old geologic history, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and why multiple mineralization events were concentrated in one region over millions of years. The U.S. Geological Survey has contracted NV5 Geospatial, Edcon-PRJ and Precision GeoSurveys to collect the data.

The survey will involve a helicopter equipped with an extended “stinger” that is attached to the underside of the cabin and extends out the front of the helicopter, the press release said. Instruments in the stinger and cabin will reportedly measure fluctuations in the Earth’s magnetic field and natural, low-level radiation caused by different types of rock.

The scientific instruments on the helicopter are completely passive and do not produce any emissions that pose a danger to humans, animals or plants, the press release states. No photo or video data will be collected. The data collected will be made available to the public free of charge once completed.

The aircraft will be flown by experienced pilots who are specially trained and certified for low-level flights, the press release states. The investigations will be carried out exclusively during the day.

This survey is one of three airborne surveys to map the Colorado Mineral Belt. A southwest block was completed in 2023.and a central block investigation will continue after a break during the winter months.