Rio Tinto has struck a partnership agreement with the US Geological Survey (USGS) to provide a clearer picture of the potential for critical mineral resources beneath the Continental Divide near Montana's Boulder Batholith.

The USGS will fly airborne geophysical surveys in areas of interest with support from Rio Tinto during 2022 as part of its Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).

It will be the first time the USGS has partnered with a resources company for the Earth MRI program, allowing it to double the survey area in Southwest Montana.

Warren Day, science coordinator for Earth MRI at the USGS, said the data it plans to acquire would help address other "pressing societal issues in need of detailed geoscience information".

These include identifying potential natural hazards, studying groundwater resources and providing foundational geology to inform infrastructure systems such as roads and bridges.

Rio Tinto Exploration Director Chris Welton said the partnership would deliver "high-quality data" on potential mineral resources" through its Earth MRI programme.

"By working together, we are sharing expertise, resources and knowledge to make the search for critical minerals more efficient," Welton explained.

The region is well-known for its mineral potential, Rio Tinto said. Previous mining efforts have yielded significant quantities of copper, gold, lead, silver and zinc, as well as other metals.

The new airborne magnetic and radiometric surveys will provide geoscientists with new insights to help interpret regional geologic structures and rock formations concealed beneath the rugged landscape.

This will allow for a deeper and novel understanding of the complex regional geology of southwestern Montana.