Amin Beiranvand Pour

Integrating PALSAR and ASTER data for mineral deposits exploration in tropical environments: a case study from Central Belt, Peninsular Malaysia

Remote sensing investigation for mineral deposits exploration in tropical environments is not completely implemented due to obstacles imposed by tropical climate. Recent challenge is to use the most suitable recent generation of remote sensing data and image processing approaches for the detection of lithological units and structural features associated with epithermal and polymetallic vein-type mineralisation, which are concealed by tropical rainforest. This research investigates the integration of the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) and the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite data for geological mapping applications in tropical environments. The eastern part of the Central Belt of Peninsular Malaysia with high potential for gold prospecting has been investigated as a case study to identify structural features and mineral assemblages using PALSAR and ASTER data. Adaptive local sigma and directional filters were applied to PALSAR data for detecting geological structure elements in the study area. Vegetation, mineralogic and lithologic indices for ASTER bands were tested in tropical climate. Lineaments (fault and fractures) and curvilinear (anticline or syncline) were detected using PALSAR image map of directional filters (N–S, NE–SW and NW–SE).Vegetation index image map show vegetation cover using ASTER visible and near-infrared radiation (VNIR) bands. High concentration of clay minerals zone was detected using image map derived from ASTER shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands. ASTER thermal infrared (TIR) bands produced image map of the lithological units. Results indicate that data integration from PALSAR and ASTER sources enhanced information extraction for geological mapping in tropical environments. The study presented here encourages further applications of satellite remote sensing data integration for mapping structural elements, hydrothermal alteration minerals and lithological units associated with epithermal and polymetallic vein-type mineralisation in tropical environments.

Exploration of gold mineralization in a tropical region using Earth Observing-1 (EO1) and JERS-1 SAR data: a case study from Bau gold field, Sarawak, Malaysia

Bau gold mining district, located near Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, is a Carlin style gold deposits. Geological analyses coupled with remote sensing data were used to detect hydrothermal alteration rocks and structure elements associated with this type of gold mineralization. Image processing techniques, including principal components analysis, linear spectral unmixing, and Laplacian algorithms, were employed to carry out spectrolithological–structural mapping of mineralized zones, using Advanced Land Imager, Hyperion, and JERS-1 synthetic aperture radar scenes covering the study area and surrounding terrain. Hydrothermally alteration mineral zones were detected along the SSW to NNE structural trend of the Tai Parit fault that corresponds to the areas of occurrence of the gold mineralization in the Bau limestone. The results show that potentially interesting areas are observable by the methods used, despite limited bedrock exposure in this region and the constraints imposed by the tropical environment.

Fusing ASTER, ALI and Hyperion data for enhanced mineral mapping

This investigation fused Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Advanced Land Imager (ALI) and Hyperion data for detecting hydrothermal alteration minerals associated with porphyry copper mineralisation and related host-rock lithology. The distribution of iron oxide/hydroxide minerals, vegetation and clay minerals was identified based on principal component analysis, using the distinctive bands of ASTER and ALI at a regional scale. The analysis also showed that by fusing these different data sources, the discrimination of quartz-rich igneous rocks from the magmatic bedrock and the boundary between igneous and sedimentary rocks using ASTER thermal infrared bands could be made. An image map of spectrally predominant mineral assemblages in the hydrothermal alteration zones could be produced using the shortwave infrared bands of Hyperion data at a district scale. Phyllic, advanced argillic and propylitic alteration zones associated with porphyry copper mineralisation were discriminated based on the identified alteration minerals such as sericite, kaolinite, illite, alunite, chlorite, epidote and calcite. Results have proven to be effective, and in accordance with the results of field investigations. It is concluded that the methods of image and data fusion of spectral information derived from ASTER, ALI and Hyperion data can produce comprehensive and accurate information for copper resource investigations.

The earth observing-1 (eo-1) satellite data for geological mapping, southeastern segment of the central Iranian volcanic belt, Iran

This investigation used Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) ALI (advanced land imager) and hyperion data to extract the geological and mineralogical information for identifying hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper deposits in southeastern segment of the Central Iranian Volcanic Belt, SE Iran. A band ratio derived from image spectra (4/2, 8/9, 3 in RGB) has been developed to identify lithological units and hydrothermally altered rocks using ALI data in a regional scale. Analytical imaging and geophysics (AIG)-Developed Hyperspectral Analysis processing methods were tested on the shortwave infrared bands of hyperion for mapping mineral assemblages in hydrothermal alteration zones associated with two known copper ore deposits, namely Sar Cheshmeh and Meiduk. The methods produced image map of spectrally predominant minerals in alteration zones using hyperion data. Therefore, phyllic, argillic, and propylitic alteration zones were significantly discriminated from surrounding country rock. The spatial distribution of identified hydrothermal alteration zones has been confirmed by spectral reflectance measurements, XRD analysis and in-situ inspection. The research presented here indicated that lithological units, hydrothermally altered rocks, and hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper mineralization can be accurately mapped by ALI and hyperion data at both regional and district scales.

Hydrothermal alteration mapping from Landsat-8 data, Sar Cheshmeh copper mining district, south-eastern Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract We studied the applicability of data from the recently launched Landsat-8 for mapping hydrothermal alteration areas and lithological units associated with porphyry copper exploration in arid and semi-arid regions. Sar Cheshmeh copper mining district in the Urumieh-Dokhtar volcanic belt in south-eastern Iran was selected for a case study. Several red–green–blue colour combination images and specialized band ratios were prepared from Landsat-8 bands. Band ratios derived from image spectra (4/2, 6/7, 5 and 10 in red–green–blue) allow identification of altered rocks, lithological units and vegetation at regional scale. Analytical imaging and geophysical hyperspectral analysis processing methods and mixture tuned matched filtering were applied to Landsat-8 bands to identify alteration zones associated with known porphyry copper deposits. Fieldwork, previous remote sensing studies and laboratory analysis were used to verify the image processing results. We conclude that Landsat-8 bands, especially bands 2 and 4 in the visible and near-infrared, 6 and 7 in the shortwave infrared and 10 in the thermal infrared spectra, contain useful information for porphyry copper exploration. The thermal infrared bands of Landsat-8 significantly improved the quality and availability of remote-sensing data for lithological mapping. The results of this investigation should encourage geologists to use Landsat-8 operational land imager and thermal infrared sensor data for porphyry copper exploration and geological purposes.

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

This paper provides a review of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), Advanced Land Imager (ALI), and Hyperion data and applications of the data as a tool for ore minerals exploration, lithological and structural mapping. Spectral information extraction from ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion data has great ability to assist geologists in all disciplines to map the distribution and detect the rock units exposed at the earth’s surface. The near coincidence of Earth Observing System (EOS)/Terra and Earth Observing One (EO-1) platforms allows acquiring ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion imagery of the same ground areas, resulting accurate information for geological mapping applications especially in the reconnaissance stages of hydrothermal copper and gold exploration, chromite, magnetite, massive sulfide and uranium ore deposits, mineral components of soils and structural interpretation at both regional and district scales. Shortwave length infrared and thermal infrared bands of ASTER have sufficient spectral resolution to map fundamental absorptions of hydroxyl mineral groups and silica and carbonate minerals for regional mapping purposes. Ferric-iron bearing minerals can be discriminated using six unique wavelength bands of ALI spanning the visible and near infrared. Hyperion visible and near infrared bands (0.4 to 1.0 μm) and shortwave infrared bands (0.9 to 2.5 μm) allowed to produce image maps of iron oxide minerals, hydroxyl-bearing minerals, sulfates and carbonates in association with hydrothermal alteration assemblages, respectively. The techniques and achievements reviewed in the present paper can further introduce the efficacy of ASTER, ALI, and Hyperion data for future mineral and lithological mapping and exploration of the porphyry copper, epithermal gold, chromite, magnetite, massive sulfide and uranium ore deposits especially in arid and semi-arid territory.

Mapping alteration mineral zones and lithological units in Antarctic regions using spectral bands of ASTER remote sensing data

Abstract Geological mapping is one of the primary tasks of remote sensing. Remote sensing applications are especially useful when extreme environmental conditions inhibit direct survey such as in Antarctica. In this investigation, a satellite-based remote sensing approach was used for mapping alteration mineral zones and lithological units using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data in the Oscar II coast area, north-eastern Graham Land, Antarctic Peninsula. Specialized band ratios and band combinations were developed using visible and near infrared, shortwave infrared (SWIR) and thermal infrared spectral bands of ASTER for detecting alteration mineral assemblages and lithological units in Antarctic environments. Constrained Energy Minimization, Orthogonal Subspace Projection and Adaptive Coherence Estimator algorithms were tested to ASTER SWIR bands for detecting sub-pixels’ abundance of spectral features related to muscovite, kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, epidote, chlorite and biotite. Results indicate valuable applicability of ASTER data for Antarctic geological mapping.

Application of Landsat-8 and ASTER satellite remote sensing data for Porphyry copper exploration: a case study from Shahr-e-Babak, Kerman, south of Iran

Abstract The Shahr-e-Babak region located in the Kerman metallogenic belt is one of the high potential segments of Urumieh–Dokhtar magmatic arc for porphyry copper and epithermal gold mineralization in the south of Iran. This high potential zone encompasses several porphyry copper deposits under exploitation, development and exploration stages. The aim of this study is to evaluate Landsat-8 data and comparison with the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer data-sets for mapping hydrothermal alteration zones related to Cenozoic magmatic intrusions in Shahr-e-Babak region. Previous studies have proven the robust application of ASTER in lithological mapping and mineral exploration; nonetheless, the Landsat-8 data have high capability to map and detect hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper and epithermal gold mineralization. In this investigation, several band combinations and multiplications, developed selective principal component analysis and image transformations were developed for discriminating hydrothermal alteration zones associated with porphyry copper mineralization using Landsat-8 data.

Gondwana-Derived Terranes Structural Mapping Using PALSAR Remote Sensing Data

Gondwana-derived terranes are now separated by major faults or suture zone, which are rarely simple and easily recognizable lineaments. Different association of ore mineral systems such as deposits of sediment-hosted/orogenic gold and granite-related minerals is discovered in collision and subduction zones of the Gondwana-derived terranes. They are associated with large-scale, terrane-bounding fault systems and broad areas of deformation. Mineralization mostly associated with structurally-controlled complex lodes, veins, sheeted veins and veinlets in diverse orientations. Recognizing the structural significance of lineaments and curvilinear is very difficult in tropical, arid and Antarctic regions due to environmental obstacles. Remote sensing data could be used to detect geological structures associated with suture zones between Gondwana-derived terranes especially for large inaccessible regions where fieldwork is limited or nonexistent. In this investigation, the Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) satellite remote sensing data were used to map major geological structures in the Bentong-Raub Suture Zone of Peninsular Malaysia. It is one of the major structural zones in Sundaland, Southeast Asia, which forms the boundary between the Gondwana-derived the Sibumasu terrane and Sukhothai-Indochina arc. Structural features associated with sediment-hosted/orogenic gold deposits in the Central Gold Belt and tin mineralization in S-type granites in the Main Range were investigated using PALSAR data and comprehensive fieldwork. Results indicate that main faults strike along 340° to 350° that are intersected by many shear or lateral fault zones are high potential zone for gold mineralization in the Central Gold Belt. Hydrothermally alteration mineral zones and cataclastic rocks are also the other indicators of gold mineralized veins in the gold belt. High potential zones for tin mineralization are N–S strike-slip faults, fault zones and shear zones trending E–W, NE–SW and WNW–ESE in dissected crystalline granitic rocks that are associated with hydrothermal alteration zones in the Western Tin Belt. Lineament analysis using PALSAR satellite remote sensing data is a useful tool for mapping major geological structural features and detection of the boundary between the Gondwana-derived terranes and detailed structural analysis of fault systems and deformation with high potential for a variety of mineral resources, especially in tropical, arid and Antarctic regions.

Evaluation of ICA and CEM algorithms with Landsat-8/ASTER data for geological mapping in inaccessible regions

Abstract Many regions remain poorly studied in terms of geological mapping and mineral exploration in inaccessible regions especially in the Arctic and Antarctica due to harsh conditions and logistic difficulties. Application of specialized image processing techniques is capable of revealing the hidden linear mixing spectra in multispectral and hyperspectral satellite images. In this study, the applications of Independent component analysis (ICA) and Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM) algorithms were evaluated for Landsat-8 and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) remote sensing data for geological mapping in Morozumi Range and Helliwell Hills areas, Northern Victoria Land (NVL), Antarctica. The results of this investigation demonstrate the capability of the two algorithms in distinguishing pixel and subpixel targets in the multispectral satellite data. The application of the methods for identifying poorly exposed geologic materials and subpixel exposures of alteration minerals has invaluable implications for geological mapping and mineral exploration in inaccessible regions.