NASA, USGS Scientists Go Rock Hounding in California’s High Desert
11 Jun 2026, 15:38 GMT
By Naomi Hartono
Topic: Earth Science
Source URL: https://www.nasa.gov/science-research/earth-science/nasa-usgs-scientists-go-rock-hounding-in-californias-high-desert/
Equipped with rock picks and hand lenses, a team of geoscientists deployed to the Mojave Desert recently to investigate a tantalizing “fingerprint” detected by a NASA sensor. Their target: a cache of topaz hiding in plain sight. The geologists weren’t searching for gem-grade treasure. Rather, the presence of topaz could hint at a more valuable