ASTER, ALI and Hyperion sensors data for lithological mapping and ore minerals exploration

Area of Science:

• Geoscience
• Remote Sensing
• Mineral Exploration

Background:

• Geological mapping and mineral exploration rely on accurate identification of rock units and mineral deposits.
• Remote sensing technologies provide valuable data for large-scale geological surveys.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the applications of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Advanced Land Imager (ALI), and Hyperion data for geological mapping and mineral exploration.
• To highlight the efficacy of spectral information extraction from these satellite-based sensors.

Main Methods:

• Review of data products and applications from ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion.
• Analysis of spectral resolution and band capabilities for mineral identification.
• Examination of geological mapping and ore deposit exploration case studies.

Main Results:

• ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion data provide crucial spectral information for mapping rock units and detecting ore minerals.
• Specific spectral bands in ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion are effective for identifying hydroxyl, silica, carbonate, and iron-bearing minerals.
• Coincident data acquisition from EOS/Terra and EO-1 platforms enhances geological mapping accuracy.

Conclusions:

• ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion data are highly effective tools for regional and district-scale geological mapping and mineral exploration.
• These sensors are particularly valuable for identifying hydrothermal copper and gold deposits, chromite, magnetite, massive sulfides, and uranium ores.
• The reviewed techniques demonstrate significant potential for future mineral exploration, especially in arid and semi-arid environments.