The use of hyperspectral remote sensing for mineral exploration: a review

Abstract

The hyperspectral remote sensing technology has been available to the research community for more than three decades. Since in its first steps the hyperspectral technology was also promoted as a tool for mineral exploration. Numerous mineral exploration applications of hyperspectral remote sensing have been reported. This paper provides an up-to-date and focused review of the applications of the hyperspectral remote sensing to mineral exploration. The ore deposits are grouped based on major processes of formation (magmatic, hydrothermal, sedimentary, supergene). The review shows that the hyperspectral remote sensing technology has found application to the study and exploration of a number of ore deposits including kimberlites (host-rocks of diamonds), carbonatites (host-rock of rare earth elements deposits), porphyry deposits, epithermal gold and silver deposits, skarn deposits, volcanic-hosted massive sulfide (VHMS) deposits, orogenic gold deposits, Carlin-type gold deposits, SEDEX Pb-Zn-Ag deposits. On the other hand, the possibilities of the hyperspectral technology remain still underexplored for the study and exploration of chromite deposits, Ni-sulfide deposits in mafic and ultramafic rocks, rare-metal pegmatites, greisen and related deposits, Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits, Kupferschiefer deposits and uranium deposits in sedimentary basins, iron ores in banded-iron formations, laterites and bauxites. A special attention has been paid in this review to the applications in mineral exploration of the emerging airborne hyperspectral thermal infrared technology. In addition, the possibilities and limitations of spaceborne hyperspectral imagery of moderate spatial resolution for detailed characterization and detection of mineralized systems are discussed for each major deposit type. The spatial resolution of the hyperspectral data is noted to be a key factor on the success of a hyperspectral exploration project. By providing a full up-to-date picture of the applications and contribution of the hyperspectral imagery to the exploration and characterization of ore deposits this review paper should be useful to the interested geological remote sensing researcher and practitioner, and to the mineral exploration manager as well.

Spectral characterisation of hydrothermal alteration associated with sediment-hosted Cu-Ag mineralisation in the Central European Kupferschiefer

“…The benefits of this technology remain underexplored for hydrothermal ore deposits in sedimentary environments, such as Kupferschiefer-type deposits. The present contribution builds on previous work on the hyperspectral characterization of similar 65 deposits (e.g., Bedini, 2017;Lampinen et al, 2019) to (1) characterise the hyperspectral response of host rock and alteration mineral assemblages associated with Kupferschiefer-type mineralisation and (2) demonstrate the complementary nature of data collected over an extended hyperspectral range (VNIR, SWIR, MWIR and LWIR). The study places particular focus on three spectrally active mineral groups: the kaolinite, carbonate and iron-oxide groups.…”

“…Hyperspectral mapping has been widely applied in mining and mineral exploration (e.g., Bedini, 2017). Extensive studies have highlighted the relevance and the support HSI can provide to characteristic alteration mineral assemblages associated with 60 hydrothermal ore deposits in magmatic (e.g., Herrmann et al, 2001;Jones et al, 2005;Zamuido, 2009;Riley et al, 2009;Ngcofe et al, 2013;Swayze et al, 2014;Kruse, 2015), orogenic (e.g., Bierwirth et al, 2002;Mateer, 2010;Laukamp et al, 2011;Arne et al, 2016;Wang et al, 2017) and in sedimentary environments (e.g., Taylor et al, 2005;Jakob et al, 2016).…”

Development of the HySpex hyperspectral drill core scanner: case study on exploration core from the Au-rich LaRonde-Penna volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit, Quebec, Canada

“…Hyperspectral imagery (HSI) offers a fast, replicable, non-destructive and reliable method for logging drill cores with comparatively high turnover rates. HSI remote sensing applications play a role in a number of raw material activities, reviewed in [4][5][6][7] . These approaches range from satellite-and aerial surveys for exploration, to UAV-and tripod-based mapping approaches of open pits, to lab-based drill core-and sample scanning.…”

Prospection for economic mineralization using PRISMA satellite hyperspectral remote sensing imagery: an example from central East Greenland

“…The visible to short wave infrared (0.4-2.5 μm) region of the electromagnetic spectrum is also useful for the remote sensing of natural resources (e.g. van der Meer et al, 2012;Bedini, 2017;and references therein).…”