NESNA C.

A
The use of remote sensing in mineral exploration began
some 60 years ago with hand-held cameras being
pointed out of aircraft windows and has since evolved
through stereoscopic aerial photography to
sophisticated space age technology, with satellite and
airborne multispectral and hyperspectral digital
imaging systems.
The Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) instruments have
provided the geological user with information relating
to specific groups of minerals, specifically the iron
oxides and clays.


The rapid growth in computing power and storage
capacity in PCs has allowed the very large data files
captured by the airborne instruments to be handled in a
time frame compatible with the needs of mineral
exploration.
In the 1980's, airborne remote sensing began with the
development of the Airborne Thematic Mapper by
Daedalus, the Geoscan instruments (MKI and MKII) by
Australian Carr Boyd Minerals Ltd., the Collins' imaging
spectrometers developed by Geophysical and
Environmental Research Corporation of Millbrook,
New York and the Airborne Visible InfraRed Imaging
Spectrometer (AVIRIS) developed by the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena.

All of these instruments offered increased spectral and
spatial resolution over their satellite borne predecessors
and, the three latter in particular, provided geological
users with a means of discriminating and mapping
individual mineral species and alteration assemblages.
NEW APPLICATIONS OF REMOTE
SENSING TO MINERAL
EXPLORATION
Within the last decade improvements in sensors have
allowed the detection and mapping of tens of spectral
end-members from measurements of mineralized
terrains.
These improvements have enabled geoscientists to, not
only identify diagnostic minerals, but to also develop
information on the variations in composition of specific
minerals.
Multiband thermal sensors have demonstrated that
gross differences in silicate mineral content of most
rock types can be mapped on the basis of generalized
variations in thermal emittance. Preliminary analysis of
ASTER data from Terra-1 has shown promise for
mapping 1:250,000 scale variations in silicate mineral
content in areas that have low vegetative surface cover.

The Spatially Enhanced Broadband Area-Array
Spectrograph System (SEBASS), developed by
Aerospace Corporation, has shown potential for
detecting and mapping discrete thermal emittance
variations related to specific minerals found in common
mineral deposits.
In the last few years a number of promising commercial
sensor/platform technologies (Probe-1, HyMap and
HyperSpecTIR) have become available to geoscientists.

CASE STUDY


Remote Sensing and Mineral Exploration
Exploration drilling in the Canadian Rockies

The availability of multi-spectral, radar, and IR
imaging, in variety of combinations allowed
geologists to evaluate regions in much more detail
then ever.
This greatly reduced the cost of regional exploration
by precluding the need for repeated trips to a locale
to reassess.
The computer age further enhanced the usefulness
of data by allowing imagery to be digitally enhanced
to highlight specific features.
Now spectral studies can be done which allow the
identification of specific minerals from space.


A Pegmatite hosted gem mine in California. Pegmatites can
often be located within granite bodies due to differential
vegetation growth and erosion patterns. This is prominent in
aerial photos.
The most elementary operation of remote sensing
in mineral exploration is using aerial photographs
to identify topographic surface features which may
imply the subsurface geology.
Such telling surface features as differential erosion,
outcropping rock, drainage patterns, and
folds/faults can be identified.
These features can be compared to other potential
targets in the region when looking for similar
deposits.
Faults fractures and contacts often provide a
conduit or depositional environment for
hydrothermal or magmatic fluids in regions of
known mineralization, and thus make excellent
targets for further investigation.

A fault trace near Moab Utah, that would be difficult to detect on the ground is
easily seen in an aerial photograph.
An extension of simple air photo comparison is
utilizing satellite imagery to locate structural
features on a regional level.
This can allow geologist to narrow a large field of
targets to a more manageable group.
The same basic parameters exist, the search for
favorable structural trends, only on a regional
level.
Field teams can then prioritize their energy in a
more effective and efficient manner.
The Ray Rock gold prospect, North West Territories, Canada. A large scale linear feature
related to an ophiolite sequence developed during Precambrian tectonism.
As satellite image collection and data management
improved a new kind of remote sensing
application began being used by exploration
geologists.
Multispectral imaging and thematic mapping
allowed surface mapping to be performed remotely
in ways only dreamed about during the era of early
photo interpretation.
Different scanning spectrums enabled researchers
to begin cataloguing various reflection and
adsorption properties of soils, rock, and
vegetation.
These spectra could be utilized to interpret actual
surface lithologies from remote images.
With a field crew providing ground truth data,
large areas could be geologically mapped in a
short time at a fraction of the cost of traditional
geologic mapping.
The Pogo district granitics, as seen from LandSat 5. These granites are
clearly seen in this enhanced false color image. The Pogo district deposits
are among the richest mineral locals in the world.
Among the most valuable data collected is the
weathering and alteration products of mineral
deposits, especially clays.
Clays and oxides can be readily differentiated by
the spectra utilized for remote sensing.
By correlating the alteration products to parent
materials, potentially valuable ores may by
distinguished without the need for extensive soil
sampling programs.
Another valuable component of spectral analysis is
differentiating various types of vegetation.
Changes in plant cover may indicate a change in
lithologies.

This image and the associated spectral analysis of different clay alteration was crucial
in the location of a set of copper prospects for Norandal.
Today, there are a variety of remote sensing tools
available to the exploration geologist.
The synthesis of the various forms of imagery, digital
image processing, spectral analysis, remote mapping,
and field work has come together with the help of GIS
technology.
Now a comprehensive program can manage data
collected in the field with satellite images.
Potential drill targets or known drilling results can be
integrated with topographic maps, air photos,
structural maps, and ore grade data to assist the
geologist in the most effective use of exploration
details.
In addition, GIS allows project planners to use
exploration information to get a head start on mine
planning and environmental compliance.



This is a stock image of a remote image combined with drill data and surface
mapping to extrapolate subsurface geology.
CONCLUSION
As population increases and more nations
industrialize the demand for natural resources
continues to increase.
Growing pressure for environmental
sustainability and the spread of population
centers has driven the search for economically
viable mineral deposits into more remote and
desolate regions.
Increased competitiveness and price
consciousness from investors has produced
intense pressure to maximize the return on
exploration capital expenses.
These are among the many factors contributing to
the increased use of remote sensing in geologic
mineral exploration.
As technology improves, so will geologists ability
to gather even more detailed data information
from remotely sensed data.
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