NASA's Aviris-5 Spectrometer Maps Hidden Lithium Deposits from the Sky

NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) has developed a powerful new tool for detecting critical minerals from the air. The Aviris-5 imaging spectrometer, mounted on a high-altitude aircraft, scans the Earth’s surface to pinpoint lithium and rare earth deposits. Its latest mission in 2025 covered vast areas of the western United States, offering detailed geological insights. The Aviris-5 system represents the fifth generation of JPL’s imaging spectrometers, first introduced in 1986. This latest version boasts far greater precision, capable of identifying surface features as small as 30 centimetres to 10 metres across. By analysing reflected sunlight, it detects unique spectral signatures of minerals, including lithium-rich clays like hectorite, which may signal deeper underground deposits.

In 2025, the spectrometer logged over 200 flight hours as part of the Geological Earth Mapping Experiment (GEMx). Mounted in the nose of NASA’s ER-2 research aircraft, it surveyed regions such as Nevada and California in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The data collected will help create high-resolution geological maps of the Earth’s surface. JPL’s expertise in imaging spectrometry stretches back to the late 1970s. Originally designed for studying rocky planets like Mars, Mercury, and Pluto, the technology has now been adapted for terrestrial mineral exploration. The Aviris-5 builds on decades of refinement, offering a non-invasive way to locate resources vital for modern industries.

The survey results will provide geologists with detailed maps of lithium and other critical mineral deposits. This information could support future mining efforts and resource management in the western U.S. The technology also demonstrates how space exploration tools can be repurposed for practical applications on Earth.