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How NASA Uses Light to Detect Waste From Mines

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How NASA Uses Light to Detect Waste From Mines

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Tens of thousands of abandoned mines threaten waterways across the American West, but identifying which sites urgently need cleanup is slow and expensive. Now, NASA’s EMIT instrument can analyze the unique light signatures of mine waste from space to help focus remediation efforts where they’re needed most.

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Last Updated

May 28, 2026

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EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation)
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