Detection of chromite bearing mineralized zones in Abdasht ophiolite complex using ASTER and ETM+ remote sensing data

Podiform chromite ore deposits in ultramafic parts of ophiolite rock complexes can be detected using remote sensing data. This study focuses on the discrimination of chromite bearing mineralized zones using Landsat TM and Advance Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite data in Abdasht ophiolite complex, south of Iran. Several image processing methods, including Log residual, Decorellation Stretch, Band ratio and Mixture-Tuned Matched-Filtering (MTMF) have been evaluated for lithological mapping using Landsat ETM and ASTER data. The outcome showed that TIR band ratios of ASTER can discriminate quartzite, carbonate and mafic–ultramafic rocks in the ophiolite complex. Log residual, Decorollation Stretch and MTMF methods were more capable than previous published ASTER methods specifically for lithological mapping at a regional scale. New geological map of Abdasht region was produced based on the interpretation of ASTER image processing results and field verification. Consequently, the proposed methods demonstrated the ability of ASTER and Landsat ETM data to provide information for detecting chromite host rock (serpentinized dunites) that is valuable for chromite prospecting in study area. Additionally, the techniques used in this study are subtle for exploration geologist and mine engineering to identify high-potential chromite-bearing zones in the ophiolite complex, minimizing costly and time-consuming field works.     

Integration of ASTER and landsat TM remote sensing data for chromite prospecting and lithological mapping in Neyriz ophiolite zone,south Iran

Chromite deposits in Iran are located in the ophiolite complexes, which have mostly podiform types and irregular in their settings. Exploration for podiform chromite deposits associated with ophiolite complexes has been a challenge for the prospectors due to tectonic disturbance and their distribution patterns. Most of Iranian ophiolitic zones are located in mountainous and inaccessible regions. Remote sensing approach could be applicable tool for choromite prospecting in Iranian ophiolitic zones with intensely rugged topography, where systematic sampling and conventional geological mapping are limited. In this study, Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite data were used for chromite prospecting and lithological mapping in the Neyriz ophiolitic zone in the south of Iran. Image transformation techniques, namely decorrelation stretch, band ratio and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to Landsat TM and ASTER data sets for lithological mapping at regional scale. The RGB decorrelated image of Landsat TM spectral bands 7, 5, and 4, and the principal components PC1, PC2 and PC3 image of ASTER SWIR spectral bands efficiently showed the occurrence of major lithological units in the study area at regional scale. The band ratios of 5/3, 5/1, 7/5 applied on ASTER VNIR‐SWIR bands were very useful for discriminating most of rock units in the study area and delineation of the transition zone and mantle harzburgite in the Neyriz ophiolitic complex. Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) technique was implemented to ASTER VNIR‐SWIR spectral bands for detecting minerals of rock units and especially delineation of the transition zone and mantle harzburgite as potential zones with high chromite mineralization in the Neyriz ophiolitic complex. The integration of information extracted from the image processing algorithms used in this study mapped most of lithological units of the Neyriz ophiolitic complex and identified potential areas of high chromite mineralization (transition zone and mantle harzburgite) for chromite prospecting targets in the future. Furthermore, image processing results were verified by comprehensive fieldwork and laboratory analysis in the study area. Accordingly, result of this investigation indicate that the integration of information extracted from the image processing algorithms using Landsat TM and ASTER data sets could be broadly applicable tool for chromite prospecting and lithological mapping in mountainous and inaccessible regions such Iranian ophiolitic zones.     

基于多源遥感数据的高山峡谷区岩性信息提取研究——以新疆乌什县北山1:50000填图试点为例

新疆乌什县北山1:50000填图试点项目位于塔里木盆地西北边缘和西南天山交接部位,海拔较高,地形切割较深,属于典型的高山峡谷区。利用ASTER、SPOT6、GF-2等多源遥感数据,基于典型岩性光谱吸收特征,进行岩性差异信息增强与提取研究,总结出一套基于多源遥感数据进行岩性单元边界划分的方法。以ASTER数据、ASTER与SPOT6协同数据、ASTER与GF-2协同数据等为基础影像数据,并选择最佳波段组合进行RGB彩色合成,从而增强影像差异,结合已有研究区地质资料,初步圈定不同影像单元边界;继而利用矿物丰度指数、SMACC端元丰度提取等方法识别研究区内主要岩性的分布位置和范围;最后结合野外实际调查数据,依据实际地质背景和影像质量进行筛选,获得最终的岩性单元解译图。研究结果为该区进一步进行地层优化划分及对比提供了参考资料。      

基于ASTER光谱特征的科技廊带岩性填图:以新疆塔什库尔干地区为例

科技廊带填图是以解决关键地质问题为目的填图方式,但部分地区海拔高差大,交通不便,给填图工作造成巨大困难。遥感岩性解译可为填图工作提供重要参考。然而,当前主流的遥感岩性解译方法仍是基于地貌纹理等间接解译标志开展的。相对而言,矿物岩石光谱特征作为最为直接和准确的遥感岩性解译标志却少有实例报道。本文基于ASTER遥感影像和岩石光谱特征分析,对部分地区海拔高差较大的新疆塔什库尔干地区进行岩性解译工作,以检验其适用性。在野外工作对研究区岩性类型进行识别和鉴定的基础上,ASTER光谱分析成果影像可较准确显示区内主要岩性类型的地表出露。其中,ASTER热红外波段比可反映区内中高级变质岩、花岗岩类及碳酸盐岩的整体分布特征;在此基础上,ASTER可见光-近红外及短波红外波段比可准确鉴定与Fe~(3+)、Fe~(2+)-硅酸盐、Al-OH、Mg-OH等成分相关的矿物组成(如绿泥石、白云母及石榴子石等),从而对地表岩性出露进行更为细致的识别和分类。研究结果表明基于ASTER光谱特征的岩性填图方法在新疆、西藏等地区有天然的实用性,既可克服区内海拔高、交通不便等困难,又可准确指示地表关键岩性类型的出露情况,可作为科技廊带填图及地质研究工作的重要手段。     

Hydrothermal altered serpentinized zone and a study of Ni-magnesioferrite–magnetite–awaruite occurrences in Wadi Hibi,Northern Oman Mountain: Discrimination through ASTER mapping

Economic important minerals and ore deposits are common in hydrothermal altered serpentinized zone. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite sensor is capable of discrimination of such hydrothermal mineralized zone and detection of hydrothermal altered minerals. In the present study, the hydrothermal altered serpentinized harzburgites of Wadi Hibi area of Northern Oman Mountains have been discriminated by using ASTER VNIR–SWIR spectral bands by image processing methods and the occurrences of Ni-magnesioferrite–magnetite–awaruite in the rocks are studied. The color composite RGB image developed using ASTER spectral bands 8, 4 and 1, mapped well the occurrence of weathered peridotites by pale green to dark blue in colors and discriminated the hydrothermally altered serpentinized rocks by pale brown to dark blue colors due to the strong absorption of OH and Mg–OH molecules that occurred in the serpentine minerals of the rocks in the study area. The ASTER band ratios 4/7, 4/1, and 2/3 × 4/3 RGB images studied are capable of discrimination of hydrothermal mineralized areas more clear by pale blue to purple colors due to the strong absorption of such hydroxyl bearing serpentine minerals. The studied image processing methods are evaluated by applying to the region of Wadi Sarami situated in the Semail ophiolite (Oman). In addition to that, the occurrence of serpentine minerals namely, lizardite and antigorite in the hydrothermally altered serpentinized region are detected qualitatively and quantitatively using Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) supervised classification image processing method and studied.The interpreted images are verified in the field and checked for the occurrences of minerals including Ni-magnesioferrite, magnetite, pentlandite and awaruite and are confirmed through laboratory studies. Petrographic study of serpentinized harzburgites shows that the rocks consist predominantly of antigorite and lizardite serpentines, olivine and have the opaque minerals assemblage of Ni-magnesioferrite + magnetite + awaruite + pentlandite developed during serpentinization of the rock. The occurrences of such minerals are confirmed by XRD, electron microprobe analyses and spectral measurements in the laboratory.ASTER sensor proved its capability in discriminating the hydrothermal altered serpentinized zone and detecting the mineral occurrences and thus the study recommends the technique to the exploration geologists, scientists and mining geologists for mapping of such rocks and minerals in the similar arid region.     

Application of ASTER remote sensing data to geological mapping of basement domains in arid regions: a case study from the Central Anti-Atlas,Iguerda inlier,Morocco

Satellite remote sensing is shown to provide critical support for geological and structural mapping in semiarid and arid areas. In this work, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data were used to clarify the geological framework of the Precambrian basement of the Iguerda Proterozoic inlier in the Moroccan Central Anti-Atlas. In this study, the interpretation of the processed digital data has been ground truthed with geological field data collected during a reconnaissance-mapping program in the Central Anti-Atlas. The Iguerda inlier offers a deeply eroded Precambrian massif dominated by a Paleoproterozoic basement composed of supracrustal metasedimentary units intruded by various Eburnian granitoids. Impressive mafic dyke swarms mainly of Proterozoic age crosscut this basement. Eburnian basement rocks are unconformably overlain by Lower Ediacaran volcanosedimentary rocks of the Ouarzazate Group and Upper Ediacaran–Lower Cambrian carbonates. The applied ASTER analyses are particularly effective in the lithological differentiation and discrimination of geological units of the Iguerda inlier. The spectral information divergence (SID) classification algorithm coupled with spectral angle mapper and maximum likelihood classification effectively discriminates between metamorphic rocks, granitoid bodies, and carbonate cover. SID classification improves geologic map accuracy with respect to the spatial distribution of plutonic bodies and metamorphic units. In addition, Paleoproterozoic granitoids have been well discriminated into separate distinct suites of porphyritic granites, granodiorites, and peraluminous leucogranite suites. This discrimination was initially identified via remote sensing analysis and later ground truthed in the field. This methodology enhances geological mapping and illustrates the potential of ASTER data to serve as a vital tool in detailed geologic mapping and exploration of well-exposed basement of arid regions, such as the Proterozoic of the Anti-Atlas Mountains of Morocco.     

柴达木盆地南缘玛兴大湾地区典型岩浆岩岩性识别研究

本文运用ASTER多光谱遥感数据识别柴达木南缘玛兴大湾地区典型岩浆岩的岩性信息,分别采用光谱分析法和最小噪声变换法进行试验,可有效地识别与提取出研究区内的典型岩浆岩岩性信息;经已知地质资料和野外查证资料分析证明,用上述方法提取岩性信息的结果可靠,能为岩性填图及矿床勘查工作提供参考。     

西昆仑阿勒塔什地区ASTER影像岩性划分方法研究

以西昆仑造山带西段阿勒塔什地区为例,在缺少地表各岩石单元样品的情况下,对ASTER VNIR-SWIR波段反射率数据进行处理,提取岩性信息。首先对VNIR-SWIR多波段反射率数据进行最佳指数因子(IOIF)运算,得出最佳波段组合Band7-Band4-Band3,从其假彩色合成图像上只能识别少量岩性单元;为了减少高相关性波段之间的信息冗余度、并对波段信息进行集成,后对ASTERVNIR-SWIR波段反射率数据采用主成分变换并进行彩色合成,该图像能详细划分研究区多种岩性单元,如元古宙岩层、志留纪岩层、二长花岗岩岩体和英云闪长岩岩体,以及微观地质信息,如侵入岩热接触变质带、小型岩株和岩性界线。对比已有少量地质资料,认为提取结果可靠,为野外地质制图工作能提供超前信息。     

Utilization of ASTER and OLI data for lithological mapping of Nugrus-Hafafit area,South Eastern Desert of Egypt

Lithological discrimination of Neoproterozoic rocks occupying Nugrus-Hafafit area, South Eastern Desert of Egypt, has been carried out using Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensors’ imagery data. The applicable processing enhancement techniques include optimum index factor (OIF), band ratioing, principal component analysis (PCA), and minimum noise fraction (MNF) transform. The area comprises varieties of low-grade metamorphosed ophiolitic mélange and island-arc rocks, thrusting over high-grade metamorphic gneissic core complexes, and intruded by syn-, late-, and post-tectonic granitoids. The OLI band ratio 6/7 discriminates clearly the ophiolitic serpentinites-talc-carbonate rocks, while 4/5 ratio image is able to separate between mafic and felsic rocks. Moreover, the ASTER band ratio 6/8 is used to distinguish the amphibole-bearing rocks, including amphibolite and hornblende gneiss. The OLI and ASTER second principal component (PC2) images reflect the contrast spectral behavior of ophiolitic mélange rocks through visible-near-infrared (VNIR) and shortwave (SWIR) regions. The OLI-PC3 shows the ability to delineate the Fe-rich rocks, including amphibolite and metamafics, while ASTER-PC3 is effective for quartz-feldspathic granites and psammitic gneisses. Visual interpretation and integration of processed data with petrography and field investigation resulted in complete differentiation for the different lithologies and creation of a new detailed geological map of Nugrus-Hafafit area.     

高分辨率遥感在西藏罗布莎地区地质调查中的应用

研究区位于西藏罗布莎地区,其罗布莎蛇绿岩体蕴藏着我国目前规模最大的铬铁矿床。以WorldView-2高空间分辨率遥感数据为基本信息源,对研究区进行遥感地质解译。与传统多光谱数据ETM+、ASTER等相比,WorldView-2具有更高的空间分辨率和相对较窄且连续的光谱。对研究区WorldView-2图像进行正射校正、大气校正和影像融合后,采用最佳指数法选择8-6-4波段组合进行假彩色合成,同时结合真彩色5-3-2波段,突出各地质体单元色调差异。我们利用其空间分辨率优势建立区内主要岩性和构造的高空间分辨率遥感解译标志。通过野外地质验证,解译结果充分显示了WorldView-2高分辨率影像在海拔较高、工作环境恶劣地区进行矿产资源勘查的技术优势和应用前景。     

PCA and SVM as geo-computational methods for geological mapping in the southern of Tunisia,using ASTER remote sensing data set

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficiency of Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data in the discrimination of geological formations and the generation of geological map in the northern margin of the Tunisian desert. The nine ASTER bands covering the visible (VIS), near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectral regions (wavelength range of 400–2500 nm) have been treated and analyzed. As a first step of data processing, crosstalk correction, resampling, orthorectification, atmospheric correction, and radiometric normalization have been applied to the ASTER radiance data. Then, to decrease the redundancy information in highly correlated bands, the principal component analysis (PCA) has been applied on the nine ASTER bands. The results of PCA allow the validation and the rectification of the lithological boundaries already published on the geologic map, and gives a new information for identifying new lithological units corresponding to superficial formations previously undiscovered. The application of a supervised classification on the principal components image using a support vector machine (SVM) algorithm shows good correlation with the reference geologic map. The overall classification accuracy is 73 % and the kappa coefficient equals to 0.71. The processing of ASTER remote sensing data set by PCA and SVM can be employed as an effective tool for geological mapping in arid regions.     

Utilization of supervised classification in structural and lithological mapping of Wadi Al-Marwah Area,NW Arabian Shield,Saudi Arabia

Wadi Al-Marwah area is located in the northwestern part of the Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia. It is mainly covered by Precambrian igneous and sedimentary rock units. This area was not subjected to previous detailed lithological or structural mapping. This study aims to apply supervised classification technique of remotely sensed digital satellite data of Landsat 7 for detailed lithological and structural mapping of the area. The fusion between multispectral Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM)+ data and high-resolution panchromatic ETM+ band-8 produced a color composite fused image for the study area, scale 1:50,000. The structural lineaments of the study area were extracted and interpreted from the digital imageries data. Little discrepancies or improvements were detected when combining the supervised classification results with the Landsat ratios or principal component analysis. These highlighted the benefits of multispectral classification, especially in terms of lithologic discrimination. The overall results of image processing techniques, applied in this work, were excellent and succeeded in the performance of a more detailed and accurate lithological and structural maps (scale 1:50,000) than the previous published maps for the investigated area.     

高山峡谷区1:50000地质填图技术方法探索与实践——以新疆乌什北山为例

新疆乌什北山填图试点项目充分发挥遥感技术的先导作用,探索1:50000高山峡谷区填图方法。不同分辨率遥感数据在岩性、构造解译等方面的差异表明多源遥感数据综合解译能有效提高解译程度。研究认为同一遥感数据最佳波段组合图像、Landsat-8和Worldview-2数据协同图像增强了对岩性和构造识别的能力。高光谱遥感矿物填图和岩性分类、基于ASTER热红外遥感数据的岩石化学成分填图等是高山峡谷区填图有效技术方法。利用ETM和ASTER数据开展矿化蚀变信息提取,结果表明ASTER较ETM数据在铁染异常、羟基异常等提取方面具有更大的优势。分析认为多元信息综合预测是区域找矿的重要途径。根据乌什北山地质地貌特征,选择其中有效技术方法或技术方法组合开展1:50000地质填图,结果显示在减少剖面测制和路线地质调查数量的同时,达到了填图精度,并取得了若干重要研究成果,为区域构造演化和成矿规律分析总结提供了资料支撑。      

Assessment of the reliability of supervised classifications of Landsat-7, ASTER,and SPOT-5 multispectral data in rock unit discriminations of Jabal Daf-Wadi Fatima area,Saudi Arabia

Multispectral, multiresolution remotely sensed data were processed to emphasize geological interpretation of Jabal Daf-Wadi Fatima area. The investigated area is situated in the central western part of Saudi Arabia and geologically consists of igneous and metamorphosed rocks overlain by sedimentary sequence belonging to the Arabian-Nubian Shield. Three sets of digital satellite data, Landsat-7 ETM+, ASTER, and SPOT-5, were used in this study. The application of image processing techniques enables to identify and delineate the lithologic units and the structural features of the study area. The results of this study indicate that the confusion matrix of the three maximum likelihood supervised classifications of the three datasets shows that the Landsat ETM+ bands scored the best degree of average and overall accuracy (77 and 78%, respectively). This classification distinguishes most of the rock units for mapping in the investigated area. The supervised classification of ASTER and SPOT bands has lower degrees of accuracy than the classified Landsat data. The supervised classification of SPOT bands has a degree of average and overall accuracy of 66 and 67%, respectively, but it is the best for distinguishing the spectral signatures of the different members of Fatima Formation (lower, middle, and upper members). The statistical analyses of the confusion matrices of classifications and the interpretation of the produced classified thematic maps revealed that the classification accuracy does not necessary depend on the spatial resolution of satellite data. The data of the highest spatial resolution such as SPOT data are also very useful in emphasizing and classifying the rock units of a small outcrop area. The detailed geological map of Jabal Daf-Wadi Fatima area is interpreted in this work from supervised classified images of different resolutions as well as the structure map of this area. This study shows that it is preferable to use the supervised classifications of multiresolution data for rock unit discrimination in detailed field mapping.     

ASTER mapping of gypsum deposits of Thumrait region of southern Oman

This study demonstrates the use of ASTER data for the mapping of gypsum deposits and associated geological formations that occurred in the Thumrait region of southern Oman. The measurement of spectra over samples of gypsum in the 1,300–2,500 nm wavelength using a PIMA spectrometer showed the presence of distinct absorptions at 1400–1600, 1750, 1940, 2,100, and 2,400 nm characteristics to O? H stretching, H₂O combinations, and S? O bending overtones and stretching, respectively. Studying the unique spectral absorption characters of gypsum samples, we developed a false color composite (FCC) and an image by decorrelation stretch using the spectral bands 7, 3, and 2 of ASTER. The results FCC showed the regions of gypsum occurrences, and the decorrelated image discriminated the gypsum occurrences from other geological formations of the area. The study of surface mineralogy of the region using the VNIR‐SWIR bands by the spectral angle mapper method showed the presence of sulfate, carbonate, and clay minerals of the geological formations in the study area. We compared the results of ASTER with the results obtained using spectral bands 12, 8, and 4 of Sentinel‐2A processed by the same methods. The study showed that the spectral bands of ASTER can be used for mapping the gypsum and associated geological formations.     

基于ETM+数据的甘肃北山地区基性岩体识别

岩性识别一直是遥感地质研究的重点和难题之一,有效识别岩性可以大幅减免地质填图工作中野外工作量,而一些特殊岩性的识别对于相关矿产资源勘查具有重要作用.文章以甘肃北山辉铜山地区为研究区,综合应用比值法、主成分分析等方法处理研究区ETM＋数据,以突出辉铜山地区基性-超基性岩信息;其岩性识别结果与地质图中已知基性岩体吻合较好,进而以遥感影像特征圈定了11处疑似辉长岩体,经野外对其中9处进行验证,全部与遥感分析结果吻合,证明了此方法识别基性岩的有效性.     

Application of Principal Component Analysis and Spectral Angle Mapper in the Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration in the Jebal–Barez Area,Southeastern Iran

The southeastern part of the central Iranian Cenozoic magmatic belt contains many areas with copper mineralization. In an analysis of this region, we used the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM⁺) images to map the distribution of hydrothermally altered rocks, based on their mineral assemblages. The spectral measurements, based on the field samples and satellite‐image‐derived spectra, show dominantly Al–OH (sericite and clays) and Fe–O absorption features in the visible–near infrared to shortwave infrared regions of the spectrum. Silica–bearing rocks, as well as silicic alteration, show an intense Si–O vibrational feature in the thermal infrared wavelength region. We analyzed ASTER/ETM⁺ images, performed a directed principal component analysis, and used spectral angle mapper to map areas of hydrothermal alteration and iron oxide/hydroxide minerals. The individual principal component images compiled by directed principal component analysis reveal the distribution of individual alteration minerals such as sericite, kaolinite, chlorite, epidote, and quartz. The best results, in terms of mapping the distribution of alteration, were obtained using the spectral angle mapper method. The altered areas were then sampled and the samples subjected to X–ray diffraction analysis, spectral analysis, and thin sections were observed under a microscope. Field observations reveal that more than 98% of the known copper mineralization occurs within the interpreted alteration areas. The present results indicate the great potential of ASTER and ETM⁺ data for mapping the distribution of alteration and exploring for copper mineralization in areas with a similar climate and geological setting to those of the present study.     

奥维地图遥感影像在威信地区1∶5万地质填图中的应用

滇东北威信一带位于云贵川三省交界附近,构造样式上属侏罗山式褶皱区,以沉积地层为主,因岩石力学性质和风化程度不同,各地层岩石组合和地质地貌的遥感影像特征具有显著差异。以本区不同年代的岩石地层、地貌类型及线性构造为研究对象,利用奥维地图不同比例尺的遥感影像数据进行解译,并结合地质填图过程中的实地验证,明确本区特定地层、岩石和构造的影像特征,并以此为基础,实现了填图路线的合理布局、岩性变化的预判、岩溶地貌类型的划分和地质图的成图处理等工作。通过奥维地图遥感影像的解译工作,地质体界线定位精度较高,可满足1∶50 000区域地质填图要求。      

ASTER与WorldView-2结合提取岩性信息流程——以西藏物玛地区为例

以西藏物玛地区ASTER、WorldView-2图像为例,通过分析比较2种数据的系统特征,细化完善了遥感地质岩性信息提取的流程。首先,以ASTER图像为基础,利用其多波段的特点,采用比值法有效提取研究区岩矿信息;然后。以WorldView-2图像为底图,以其较高的分辨率提高信息提取结果的解译精度和几何精度。该方法综合了2种图像各自的特点,结合应用于遥感地质岩性信息提取,能较好地区别研究区内中性、基性火山岩、碳酸盐岩、碎屑岩类及一些蚀变岩体,提高了解译工作的精度和效率。     

ASTER Spectral Analysis for Host Rock Associated with Porphyry Copper-molybdenum Mineralization

This study is an attempt to understand the application of spectral image processing methods to ASTER data for mapping host rock associated with porphyry copper-molybdenum mineralization. The application of remote sensing in identifying variations in surface mineralogy, structural elements, and lithologic contacts can help in identifying such relations. Signatures collected from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data is used to map the host rock of Zafarqand area. The study area is located in the central segment of the Urumieh–Dokhtar volcanic belt of Iran. The Urumieh-Dokhtar is a potential zone for exploration of new porphyry copper deposits. Band ratio, band math, false colour composites and principal component analysis techniques are used to refine the different lithologic units in the area. These methods showed the discrimination of acidic igneous rock from intermediate igneous rock and the boundary between igneous rocks using the shortwave infrared bands (SWIR) of ASTER at regional scale. Results have proven to be effective and in accordance with the results of field observations, ore microscopy examination and with reference geological map. In conclusion, the image processing methods used can provide cost-effective information to discover possible locations of porphyry copper and epithermal gold mineralization prior to detailed and costly ground investigations. The extraction of spectral information from ASTER data can produce comprehensive and accurate information for copper and gold resource investigations around the world, including those yet to be discovered.