According to the surficial geologic map, the rocks located above the shot point consist of hard volcanics, such as andesites, rhyolites, or welded tuffs, similar to those found in the mesas of the US Nuclear Test Site in Nevada. Interestingly, the geological map also shows that the tunnel actually crosses the fault line. The fault line can most clearly be seen in the Indian IRS-1C satellite image. None of those rockslides were evident on the most recent available 7 April 1998 pre-test satellite image of the mountain. That new information can, in turn, provide a basis for improving the geographic accuracy of processed seismic data for the region, possibly refining yield estimates, and for verifying previous media reporting.
Satellite imagery is an important complement to seismic networks.
Analysis continues of the second test site located about 100 kilometers southwest of the first site, where another nuclear detonation occurred on May 30, 1998.