SRI International’s Artificial Intelligence Center developed PROSPECTOR for the U.S. Geological Survey to aid geologists in mineral exploration. The system, one of the world’s first computer-based expert systems, attempted to represent the knowledge and reasoning process of geological experts.
Its primary use was intended to be for a exploration geologist in the early stages of investigating a possible drilling site. PROSPECTOR predicted the existence of a hitherto unknown molybdenum deposit in Washington State.