Mapping of hydrothermally altered rocks using airborne multispectral scanner data,Marysvale, Utah,mining district

Multispectral data covering an area near Marysvale, Utah, collected with the airborne National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) 24-channel Bendix multispectral scanner, were analyzed to detect areas of hydrothermally altered, potentially mineralized rocks. Spectral bands were selected for analysis that approximate those of the Landsat 4 Thematic Mapper and which are diagnostic of the presence of hydrothermally derived products. Hydrothermally altered rocks, particularly volcanic rocks affected by solutions rich in sulfuric acid, are commonly characterized by concentrations of argillic minerals such as alunite and kaolinite. These minerals are important for identifying hydrothermally altered rocks in multispectral images because they have intense absorption bands centered near a wavelength of 2.2 μm. Unaltered volcanic rocks commonly do not contain these minerals and hence do not have the absorption bands.A color-composite image was constructed using the following spectral band ratios: 1.6μm/2.2μm, 1.6μm/0.48μm, and 0.67μm/1.0μm. The particular bands were chosen to emphasize the spectral contrasts that exist for argillic versus non-argillic rocks, limonitic versus nonlimonitic rocks, and rocks versus vegetation, respectively. The color-ratio composite successfully distinguished most types of altered rocks from unaltered rocks. Some previously unrecognized areas of hydrothermal alteration were mapped. The altered rocks included those having high alunite and/or kaolinite content, siliceous rocks containing some kaolinite, and ash-fall tuffs containing zeolitic minerals. The color-ratio-composite image allowed further division of these rocks into limonitic and nonlimonitic phases. The image did not allow separation of highly siliceous or hematitically altered rocks containing no clays or alunite from unaltered rocks.A color-coded density slice image of the 1.6μm/2.2μm band ratio allowed further discrimination among the altered units. Areas containing zeolites and some ash-fall tuffs containing montmorillonite were readily recognized on the color-coded density slice as having less intense 2.2-μm absorption than areas of highly altered rocks. The areas of most intense absorption, as depicted in the color-coded density slice, are dominated by highly altered rocks containing large amounts of alunite and kaolinite. These areas form an annulus, approximately 10 km in diameter, which surrounds a quartz monzonite intrusive body of Miocene age. The patterns of most intense alteration are interpreted as the remnants of paleohydrothermal convective cells set into motion during the emplacement of the central intrusive body.     

Application of WorldView-3 imagery and ASTER TIR data to map alteration minerals associated with the Rodalquilar gold deposits,southeast Spain

The Rodalquilar epithermal quartz-alunite gold deposits that occur within the Rodalquilar caldera complex in southeast Spain, are associated with a pronounced hydrothermal alteration of the country rocks. The hydrothermal alteration zones that are exposed on the surface consist of the vuggy silica zone, the advanced argillic alteration zone, the intermediate argillic alteration zone, the propylitic alteration zone, and a second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. High spatial resolution multispectral imagery recorded by the WorldView-3 satellite was used in this study to map the spatial distribution of the main alteration minerals in the Rodalquilar caldera complex. Thermal infrared (TIR) data of the ASTER satellite were used to detect the quartz-rich zones. The analysis of the Rodalquilar WorldView-3 data was based on the Adaptive Coherence Estimator (ACE), a partial unmixing algorithm. The ACE processing accurately mapped the spatial distribution of alunite, kaolinite, illite and goethite. Alunite is abundant in the vuggy silica and advanced argillic alteration zones, and in the second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. Kaolinite is predominant in the intermediate argillic alteration zone. Illite is abundant in the outer parts of the intermediate argillic alteration zone. Goethite image maps gossans that mainly occur in the vuggy silica and advanced argillic alteration zones, and in the areas characterized by the second stage supergene acid sulfate alteration. The detection of quartz-rich zones from the ASTER TIR data complemented the WorldView-3 mapping results. The study shows the efficiency of high spatial resolution multispectral remote sensing imagery recorded by the WorldView-3 satellite for district-level mineral exploration studies.     

Preliminary evaluation of the landsat-4 thematic mapper data for mineral exploration

Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper (TM) data recorded over an arid terrain were analyzed to determine the applicability of using of TM data for identifying and mapping hydrothermally altered, potentially mineralized rocks. Clays, micas, and other minerals bearing the OH anion in specific crystal lattice positions have absorption bands in the 2.2-μm region (TM channel 7, TM7) and commonly lack features in the 1.6-μm region (TM5). Channel ratios TM5/TM7, TM5/TM4, and TM3/TM1 were combined into a color-ratio-composite (CRC) image and used to distinguish hydrothermally altered rocks, unaltered rocks, and vegetation. These distinctions are made possible by using the TM5 and TM7, channels which are not available in the Landsat multispectral scanner (MSS). Digital masking was used to eliminate ambiguities due to water and shadows. However, some ambiguities in identification resulted between altered volcanic rocks and unaltered sedimentary deposits that contained clays, carbonates, and gypsum, and between altered volcanic rocks and volcanic tuffs diagenetically altered to zeolites. However, compared to MSS data, TM data should greatly improve the ability to map hydrothermally altered rocks in arid terrains.     

Extraction of hydrothermal alterations from ASTER SWIR data from east Zanjan,northern Iran

The use of satellite images for mineral exploration has been very successful in pointing out the presence of minerals such as smectite and kaolinite which are important in the identification of hydrothermal alterations. Shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) with the wavelength of ASTER SWIR bands between 1.65 and 2.43 μm has a good potential for mapping a hydrothermal alteration minerals such as alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, illite–muscovite–sericite, and carbonate. In this range, hydroxide minerals which have been produced by hydrothermal alteration exhibit good absorption compared to shorter or longer wavelengths. In this research which aims to remove atmospheric and topographic effects from ASTER SWIR data, the authors used the log-residual method (LRM) with the minimum noise fraction (MNF) transformation to create a pixel purity index (PPI) which was used to extract the most spectrally pure pixels from multispectral images. Spectral analyses of the clay mineralogy of the study area (east Zanjan, in northern Iran) were obtained by matching the unknown spectra of the purest pixels to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mineral library. Three methods, spectral feature fitting (SFF), spectral angle mapping (SAM), and binary encoding (BE) were used to generate a score between 0 and 1, where a value of 1 indicates a perfect match showing the exact mineral type. In this way, it was possible to identify certain mineral classes, including chlorite, carbonate, calcite–dolomite–magnesite, kaolinite–smectite, alunite, and illite. In this research, two main propylitic and phyllic–argillic zones could be separated using their compositions of these minerals. These two alteration zones are important for porphyry copper deposits and gold mineralization in this part of Iran.     

Earth science missions for the space station

In the next decade and perhaps as early as 1994, a space station will carry an international team of scientists and engineers into low equatorial orbit (28.5 degrees) much like the shuttle missions are flown today. While the shuttle flights have successfully demonstrated new tools such as the Shuttle Multispectral Infrared Radiometer (SMIRR), Large Format Camera (LFC) and Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR-A and B) they have been of limited value to the operational needs of the earth science community, especially those located outside of the orbital path. In spite of this, it behooves the earth science community to begin defining experiments, instruments and observational objectives in preparation for the day when space stations can operate for long periods of time, at low-equatorial, high-polar and eventually, geosynchronous orbits.Observational experiments and instruments in concert with unmanned satellite records should be defined that focus on surface changes such as greening and senescence of vegetation, rain and snowfall, surface wetness, floods, plankton and algae blooms, sea and glacier ice movement, volcanic eruptions, landslides and avalanches, forest and range fires 〈natural and man-made〉, deforestation, and other dynamic environmental phenomena. If these can be observed and recorded on a global basis with better instruments than we have today we may be able to improve disaster warning and forecasting techniques as well as develop a better understanding of global change and its effects on mankind.     

ASTER spectral sensitivity of carbonate rocks – Study in Sultanate of Oman

Remote sensing satellite data plays a vital role and capable in detecting minerals and discriminating rock types for explorations of mineral resources and geological studies. Study of spectral absorption characters of remotely sensed data are under consideration by the exploration and mining companies, and demonstrating the spectral absorption characters of carbonates on the cost-effective multispectral image (rather than the hyperspectral, Lidar image) for easy understanding of all geologists and exploration communities of carbonates is very much important. The present work is an integrated study and an outcome of recently published works on the economic important carbonate rocks, includes limestone, marl, listwaenites and carbonatites occurred in parts of the Sultanate of Oman. It demonstrates the spectral sensitivity of such rocks for simple interpretation over satellite data and describes and distinguishes them based on the absorptions of carbonate minerals in the spectral bands of advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) for mapping and exploration studies. The study results that the ASTER spectral band 8 discriminates the carbonate rocks due to the presence of predominantly occurred carbonate minerals; the ASTER band 5 distinguishes the limestones and marls (more hydroxyl clay minerals) from listwaenite (hydrothermally altered rock) due to the presence of altered minerals and the ASTER band 4 detects carbonatites (ultramafic intrusive alkaline rocks) which contain relatively more silicates. The study on the intensity of the total absorptions against the reflections of these rocks shows that the limestones and marls have low intensity in absorptions (and high reflection values) due to the presence of carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite) occurred in different proportions. The listwaenites and carbonatites have high intensity of absorptions (low reflection values) due to the occurrence of Mn-oxide in listwaenites and carbonates in carbonatites apart the influence of major carbonate minerals that occurred predominantly in these rocks. The study of ASTER thermal infrared (TIR) spectral bands distinguished the marls have low emissivity of energy due to the presence of hydroxyl bearing alumina-silicate minerals from the other rocks such as limestones, listwaenites and carbonatites which have high emissivity due to the absence of hydroxyl bearing alumina-silicate minerals and the presence of carbonate minerals and carbonates.     

Beagle 2: a proposed exobiology lander for ESA's 2003 Mars Express mission.

The aim of the proposed Beagle 2 small lander for ESA's 2003 Mars Express mission is to search for organic material on and below the surface of Mars and to study the inorganic chemistry and mineralogy of the landing site. The lander will have a total mass of 60kg including entry, descent, and landing system. Experiments will be deployed on the surface using a robotic arm. It will use a mechanical mole and grinder to obtain samples from below the surface, under rocks, and inside rocks. Sample analysis by a mass spectrometer will include isotopic analysis. An optical microscope, an X-ray spectrometer and a Mossbauer spectrometer will conduct in-situ rock studies.     

月面克里普岩成分特征及REE等资源开发利用前景

克里普岩(KREEP)最早发现于Apollo-12样品，后来在所有返月样品中都发现3克里普岩碎片，尤其以Apolio-12和Apolio-14着陆点样品中最多，因其富含元素K1REE和P而被称之为KREEP．克里普岩在月面上的分布极为重要，不但因其对月壳形成期间及形成以后的月球的演化具有重要的意义，而且由于克里普岩中富含REE等重要资源性元素，被认为可能是除钛铁矿外最重要的月球矿产资源储存库．本文在综合已有探测资料和研究成果的基础上，通过克里普岩的化学成分与矿物组成特征，Th在风暴洋区丰度的异常特征，以及克里普岩中Th与REE相关关系的分析，探讨了KREEP岩石在月面上的分布区域，进而对月球REE资源的开发利用前景进行了初步评估．     

基于激光雷达实测和动力学仿真方法研究中间层顶垂直风扰动特性

利用中国廊坊台站钠荧光多普勒激光雷达82h垂直风和水平风观测数据,统计得到中间层顶区域中存在10m·-1量级的垂直风扰动和纬向风扰动,其中垂直风扰动远远超过平均风速为-0.015m·-1的背景垂直风速.根据三维准单色重力波的极化关系和色散关系,对高中低三种频率重力波产生的垂直风扰动进行仿真,结果显示在满足短周期、大纬向风扰动条件下,高频重力波能够产生最大10m·-1量级的垂直风扰动,中频重力波能够产生10m·-1以内的垂直风扰动,低频重力波能产生1m·-1以内的垂直风扰动.理论条件下准单色重力波能够产生10m·-1量级的垂直风扰动,钠激光雷达观测到的最大10m·-1量级的垂直风扰动真实存在.研究结果可对高层大气垂直风场探测、垂直风场模拟和重力波参数化提供依据.      

Sub-pixel mineral mapping of a porphyry copper belt using EO-1 Hyperion data

The main aim of the present study was to examine the feasibility of the EO-1 Hyperion data in discriminating and mapping diagnostic alteration minerals around porphyry copper deposits (PCDs), verified by field surveys and laboratory analyses. A partial sub-pixel method, mixture tuned matched filtering (MTMF), was implemented on a pre-processed and calibrated Hyperion dataset. The tested area is situated at the Central Iranian Volcano-Sedimentary Complex, where abundant porphyry copper deposits like Sarcheshmeh, Darrehzar, and Sereidun are located. The characteristic alteration minerals identified by Hyperion data included biotite, muscovite, illite, kaolinite, goethite, hematite, jarosite, pyrophyllite, and chlorite. Discrimination of these minerals especially biotite and iron oxide (hematite and goethite) can provide valuable evidences for PCD exploration projects. Results revealed that Hyperion data prove to be powerful in discriminating and mapping various types of alteration zones while the data were subjected to adequate pre-processing.     

Utilization of spot for mineral exploration,with special reference to Western Africa

The first SPOT 1 images show that data quality is in fairly good agreement with the SPOT simulations on which the geological community has worked in recent years. SPOT data are particularly useful in mineral exploration for the following reasons :- ground resolution (10 m and 20 m) proves to be very effective at scales such as 1/50,000. It considerably improves the identification of secondary structural features that may be significant for mineral exploration- stereoscopy makes it possible to quantify the dip of bedding, thickness of layers, fault displacement, etc.- acquisition flexibility is an additional advantage in the case of programs requiring multitemporal data.Two examples from Western Africa are described :- Poura, Burkina Faso : gold mining prospect- Bandiagara, Mali : reconnaissance study.SPOT makes it possible to bridge the gap between the regional information provided by Landsat data and that provided by ground of large scale aerial photographic surveys, with the advantage of multispectral images.     

Modifications of Martian ice-saturated regolith due to meteoroid impact

The possibility of water ice in the Martian subsurface regolith continues to present an intriguing enigma. We submit that any exo-martian source of energy, i.e. meteorite, asteroid or cometary impact, must disturb the equilibrium within the regolith surrounding an impact site. We farther propose impactors with the size range of 100 m and larger with velocities of 10 km s⁻¹ are effective in causing significant temperature increases in the regolith and subsequent ice melting. We present our studies of the crater formation within Martian surface layers that presumably are a solid mixture of regolith and water ice. Mass ratio of rocks to ice, as well as the thermal gradient in the crust, are the parameters. We have completed numerical simulations of a cratering event by means of two-dimensional, axialsymmetric hydrocodes involving a free particles' method in order to provide a simulation of an impact cratering. A fraction of subsurface ice melts and the crater partially forms from mud-like material. Comparison of a calculated crater and observed Martian crater is presented. The simplified analytical estimates concerning melting of ground ice in the regolith surrounding a Martian impact crater are presented.     

A preliminary look at the dust in comet Halley

Highlights of infrared observations of the dust are discussed and compared with first results from the space probes. An emission feature was detected at 3.4 μm; the 10 and 20 μm silicate features were well-observed; and far-infrared data out to 160 μm were obtained. Organic material seems to be abundant in grains and may explain the 3.4 μm emission. Calculations are presented for one example of organic material. A component of the grains may volatize at temperatures around 300 K.     

Modeling of LEO orbital debris populations for ORDEM2008

The NASA Orbital Debris Engineering Model, ORDEM2000, is in the process of being updated to a new version: ORDEM2008. The data-driven ORDEM covers a spectrum of object size from 10 μm to greater than 1 m, and ranging from LEO (low Earth orbit) to GEO (geosynchronous orbit) altitude regimes. ORDEM2008 centimeter-sized populations are statistically derived from Haystack and HAX (the Haystack Auxiliary) radar data, while micron-sized populations are estimated from shuttle impact records. Each of the model populations consists of a large number of orbits with specified orbital elements, the number of objects on each orbit (with corresponding uncertainty), and the size, type, and material assignment for each object. This paper describes the general methodology and procedure commonly used in the statistical inference of the ORDEM2008 LEO debris populations. Major steps in the population derivations include data analysis, reference-population construction, definition of model parameters in terms of reference populations, linking model parameters with data, seeking best estimates for the model parameters, uncertainty analysis, and assessment of the outcomes. To demonstrate the population-derivation process and to validate the Bayesian statistical model applied in the population derivations throughout, this paper uses illustrative examples for the special cases of large-size (>1 m, >32 cm, and >10 cm) populations that are tracked by SSN (the Space Surveillance Network) and also monitored by Haystack and HAX radars operating in a staring mode.     

Discrimination of rock types and main rock-forming components in Bulgarian territories through spectral reflectance characteristics

Remote sensing studies on the spectral reflectance of natural formations – rocks, products of different physical and chemical processes in the Earth’s crust and its surface – are reported. Based on spectral reflectance characteristics (SRC) of selected representative rocks with different structure, mineral composition and colour characteristics – sedimentary (psephite-conglomerate) and metamorphic (kyanite schist) – and by applying statistical and deterministic methods the rock types and the main rock-forming components were discriminated. The spectral data were obtained in laboratory using a multichannel spectrometer developed in STIL-BAS, which delivers data in the spectral range 480–810 nm.The a priori mineralogical information about the specimens studied, the actual SRC data, affine and perspective transformations of the colour coordinates of SRC were all utilized to perform a primary classification of the main constituents of the specimens. Cluster analysis was applied and its results were used to design the necessary grouping variables as required for the implementation of linear discriminant analysis. The discriminant functions were constructed from the SRC values for a selected set of wavelengths and of transformed data. Classification of the main ingredients and the rock types were obtained. The proposed novel approach to the spectral discrimination of main rock-forming components is believed relevant for predictive classification of other specimens of rocks through discriminant functions.     

中国中部低层大气行星波无线电探空仪的观测研究

通过分析武汉、宜昌和恩施气象局无线电探空仪2001-2003年的观测数据,研究了中国中部地区对流层和低平流层中行星波的特性.通过Lomb-Scargle(L-S)的周期图方法发现了周期为准16天和周期为准10天的谱分量占据着主导地位.观察发现,较大振幅的行星波振荡主要集中在5-15 km之间.准16天行星波沿纬圈向西传播,对应的纬圈波数大约为2,水平波长约为17 324.8 km,传播相速度约为-12.5 m·s-1(东向为正),通过计算准16天行星波在10 km以下相位随高度的改变可以得到其垂直波长大约为25-30 km,而在对波层顶附近其相位几乎没有发生改变,呈现出静态波特性.准10天行星波沿纬圈向东传播,对应的纬圈波数大约为4,水平波长约为8627.3 km,传播相速度约为10.0 m·s-1,垂直波长约为22-40 km.      

The longwave radiation estimated from NOAA polar orbiting satellites: An update and comparison with Nimbus-7 ERB results

The planetary outgoing longwave radiation has been estimated since 1974 from two different series of NOAA operational polar spacecraft. The first series provided data from June 1974 through February 1978 and was designated “SR” for the scaning radiometers used at that time. This data set has been used in a variety of radiation budget and climate studies, such as that by Ohring and Gruber, 1983. The second satellite system is the currently operational TIROS-N series of satellites. Data from this series began in January 1979 and are continuing. In both systems, estimates of the outgoing longwave radiation are obtained from narrow spectral interval (10–12 μm) window radiances. A comparison is made of the estimates from the two different series of satellites in order to arrive at an assessment of their compatibility. This is important since the SR observations were taken at approximately 0900 and 2100 local times, while the TIROS-N data alternate between 0730-1930 and 0300-1500 local times. In addition, there is a period of overlap between the TIROS-N data and the broad band (5–50 μm) Nimbus 7 EArth radiation budget data. A comparison of those two data sets indiciate excellent agreement generally within about 1–2 Wm^?2 on the monthly means on global and hemispherical scales. Comparisons of zonal averages indicate maximum differences as large as 9 Wm^?2.Evidence is presented to suggest that observations taken at different local observing times may be biased by the diurnal variation of emitted flux, even on global scales.     

我国中低纬地区上空低电离层中的行星波

本文通过5年的电离层吸收观测资料与平流层增温事件对比及吸收资料的谱分析,得出以下几点初步结论:1)极区平流层增温事件的影响可能通过子午环流和行星波传播,经过5—9天后到达中低纬地区,从而引起那里的电离层吸收变化;2)冬季行星波沿子午方向的平均速度大约在10m/s到15m/s之间变化;3)全年均有周期为32天、18天、10天、8天和2天的行星波出现,它对大气湍流系数有明显影响。计算得出行星波扰动引起中层的NO浓度偏离未扰值可高达40%。      

Mapping hydrothermal alteration zones and lineaments associated with orogenic gold mineralization using ASTER data: A case study from the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone,Iran

The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is considered as an important region for gold exploration in the western sector of Iran. Its mountainous topography and unpaved routes make its study challenging for researchers and raise the costs for mining companies strating new exploration plans. Gold mineralization mainly occurs as irregular to lenticular sulfide-bearing quartz veins along shear zones in deformed mafic to intermediate metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. In this investigation, ASTER data are used for mapping hydrothermal alteration minerals and to better discriminate geological structural features associated with orogenic gold occurrences in the area. Image transformation techniques such as specialized band ratioing and Principal Component Analysis are used to delineate lithological units and alteration minerals. Supervised classification techniques, namely Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) are applied to detect subtle differences between indicator alteration minerals associated with ground-truth gold locations in the area. The directional filtering technique is applied to help in tracing along the strike the different linear structures. Results demonstrate that the integration of image transformation techniques and supervised classification of ASTER data with fieldwork and geochemical exploration studies has a great efficiency in targeting new prospects of gold mineralization in the SSZ. The approach used in this research provides a fast, cost-efficient means to start a comprehensive geological and geochemical exploration programs in the study area and elsewhere in similar regions.     

Radio occultation by Saturn's rings: Observations of structure and particle size with Voyager 1

Voyager 1 radio occultation study of Saturn's rings gives detailed information regarding the rings' radial structure and particle sizes. Structure within the rings is mapped to a radial resolution of few hundred m in the tenuous parts of ring C and the Cassini Division, and few km over ost of ring A. Fine resolution profiles reveal extremely sharp edges, very narrow gaps, and a host of wave phenomena. Particle size distributions obtained from occultation data within several ring regions are roughly consistent with an inverse cube power law with upper size cutoff in the 5 to 10 m radius range.