Mineral exploration and mining
Ahmad Pourshamsoddin Motlagh; Hojjatollah Ranjbar
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to use the multisensor images for the exploration of porphyry copper deposits in the southwest of Kerman province, Rabor region. In order to conduct this study, ASTER, Sentinel-2A and IKONOS images were used. First, IARR correction was performed on IKONOS, Sentinel-2A and ...
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The purpose of this study is to use the multisensor images for the exploration of porphyry copper deposits in the southwest of Kerman province, Rabor region. In order to conduct this study, ASTER, Sentinel-2A and IKONOS images were used. First, IARR correction was performed on IKONOS, Sentinel-2A and 5 bands of the ASTER TIR dataset and FLAASH correction was applied on ASTER VNIR-SWIR bands, respectively. Then, upon initial identification of alteration zones and geochemical anomalies, these hydrothermal alterations and anomalies were surveyed and 37 samples were collected for laboratory studies. Thin sections were prepared and studied under the microscope, and selected samples were used for spectroradiometric study. Argillic, sericitic and propylitic hydrothermal alteration zones were identified with Spectral Feature Fitting (SFF) method by using samples’ spectra. Iron oxide minerals were also characterized using the b4/b2 ratio of Sentinel-2A and b3/b1 ratio of IKONOS. Bands 2 and 4 of Sentinel-2A were combined with ASTER SWIR data for identifying areas with sericitic and argillic alteration types that are stained with iron oxides. The results of the combination of the selected bands of Sentinel-2A and ASTER images gave better results due to the higher resolution. Field observations and laboratory studies were used to validate the results. Geochemical Mineral Potential Index (GMPI) method also identified porphyry copper potential areas and was used as a validation method. Finally, the alteration zones were subdivided into eight zones for detailed exploration.
