Since the beginning of 2026, 162 mineral deposits have been discovered in Russia, seven of them hydrocarbon deposits and the rest related to solid minerals. According to the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Alexander Kozlov, the introduction of modern technologies has significantly sped up geological exploration: instead of three months, surveying an area can now take only 1–2 weeks.

Expeditions use drones equipped with gamma spectrometers, quantum magnetometers, cameras of different spectral ranges, laser scanners, and electrical prospecting equipment. The data they collect is used for digital mapping and the search for deposits. New electrical prospecting systems make it possible to study rocks at depths of 400 m–1 km, while modern geochemical methods can detect deposits down to 500 m.

Artificial intelligence is used to analyze core samples, minerals, rocks, and formation fluids, as well as archival geological data and satellite imagery. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, AI reduces the time needed to prepare primary geological documentation by 30%.
@bolecon