NASA, USGS Scientists Investigate Mojave Mineral Discovery as JPL Sensor Helps Guide Search

NASA and U.S. Geological Survey scientists are investigating a mineral discovery in California’s Mojave Desert, using technology developed at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory to identify a potential porphyry copper deposit beneath a volcanic outcrop. The team examined a concentration of topaz detected by an airborne imaging instrument, focusing on its geological significance rather than its gemstone value.