Remote Sensing Research

The Great Basin Center performs remote sensing of geothermal-associated minerals (in particular, tincalconite and borate). These boron salts have unique reflectance spectra to distinguish them from other evaporites.  See available data downloads in the list to the right:

Borate salts have strong association with geothermal fluids and thus, may help identify 'blind' systems (geothermal systems with limited surface characteristics). Wendy Calvin, Mark Coolbaugh, and Chris Kratt establish baseline readings at known geothermal systems, and compare this data against Great Basin playas.