Russian geophysical contractor Geoscan has completed an unusually large exploration project in Saudi Arabia. Over 52 days, drones equipped with magnetometers surveyed an area comparable to a small nature reserve, covering approximately 10,000 linear kilometers in search of gold deposits hidden beneath thick layers of desert sediments.
The extreme Arabian heat forced the company to redesign its standard flight schedule. When daytime temperatures rise above 40°C, batteries and electronic equipment can become significantly less reliable. As a result, flight crews operated primarily after sunset, while the equipment underwent additional preparation to withstand rapid temperature fluctuations.
The survey was carried out using a Geoscan 401 multirotor drone equipped with a suspended Geoshark quantum magnetometer. The system operates at very low altitudes, starting at around 25 meters, closely following the terrain’s contours. The magnetometer can record up to 1,000 measurements per second, allowing geophysicists to identify subsurface structures hidden beneath sediment—including faults, intrusive bodies, and zones of mineralization that leave little or no visible trace at the surface.
Dmitry Goglev, head of Geoscan’s geophysics division, said the project required unconventional engineering solutions and close coordination across the entire team. The company completed the work within the agreed timeframe, and the client confirmed the quality of the survey data. A final report is now being prepared and will serve as a basis for subsequent ground-based geological exploration.
Geoscan has extensive international experience, with projects completed across five continents. Since 2017, the company has carried out magnetic and gamma-ray spectrometric surveys at more than 160 sites, ranging from Russia’s Arctic regions to African savannas and the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula. Its total survey flight distance exceeds 200,000 linear kilometers. Geoscan has operated in Saudi Arabia since 2023, making the latest contract a continuation of its growing presence in the country’s exploration sector.
Covering 10,000 kilometers in less than two months is a pace that would be difficult for conventional ground crews to match. The project demonstrates the potential of unmanned geophysical surveying to explore some of the world’s most challenging environments, leaving geologists with the task of interpreting a vast volume of ready-to-use subsurface data.
Source: zolteh.ru
Image: Geoscan Group
