Mapping of hydrothermally altered zones in Aravalli Supergroup of rocks around Dungarpur and Udaipur,India, using Landsat-8 OLI and spectroscopy

We explored the utilization of Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) data for mapping of hydrothermal alteration zones. The region in and around the cities of Dungarpur and Udaipur of Rajasthan state in India was selected for this study. The rock types of Dungarpur and Udaipur are serpentinites, talc-carbonate, talc-schist, and quartzite of the Aravalli Supergroup. Hydrothermally altered zones and resultant hydrous minerals play an important role in the genesis of these rocks. We aimed to identify possible locations of hydrothermally altered zones in regional context around Dungarpur and Udaipur using Landsat-8 OLI data. False-color composite maps and band ratios were prepared from Landsat-8 bands. Band ratios such as band 6/band 7 (short-wave infrared 1 (SWIR1)/short wave infrared 2 (SWIR2)), band 4/band 3 (red/green), and band 5/band 6 (near infrared (NIR)/SWIR1) and visual interpretation techniques were used to identify the hydrothermally altered zones. Spectroscopic analyses of field rock samples were done to validate the hydrothermal alteration zones delineated from the analysis of Landsat-8 data. We present the combined results of Landsat-8 and field spectroradiometer analysis which brings out the hydrothermal alteration zones associated with hydrous minerals (antigorite, lizardite, montmorillonite, vermiculite, talc, and saponite). The study demonstrates the utility Landsat-8 OLI (with field spectroradiometer data) in the mapping of hydrothermally altered zones as a key in understanding geological processes.     

Gold Minerogenetic Prognosis Using Satellite Data： Case Study of Paishanlou Gold Mine, Liaoning Province, China

INTRODUCTION AccommodationZones Currentmineralexplorationconceptshavefailed torecognizetheassociationofmineralizationwith uniqueextensionalstructurescalledaccommodation zones(Fauldsetal.,1987).Inmostcases,these zonesshowlittleobviousdeformation,yetfocusfl…     

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.     

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.     

A Comparative Study of Landsat‐7 and Landsat‐8 Data Using Image Processing Methods for Hydrothermal Alteration Mapping

Comparing spaceborne satellite images of Landsat‐8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Landsat‐7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) was undertaken to investigate the relative accuracy of mapping hydrothermal alteration minerals. The study investigated the northern part of Rabor, which contains copper mineralization occurrences, and is located in the Kerman Cenozoic magmatic assemblage (KCMA), Iran. Image processing methods of band ratio, principal component analysis (PCA), and spectral angle mapper (SAM) were used to map the distribution of hydrothermally altered rocks associated with the porphyry copper mineralization. The band ratio combination of both sensors for mapping altered areas showed similar outcomes. PCA exposed variations in the spatial distribution of hydroxyl‐bearing minerals. The representation of hydrothermal areas using OLI data was more satisfactory than when using ETM+ data. SAM analysis found similar results for mapping hydroxyl‐bearing zones. Verification of the results came through ground investigation and laboratory studies. Rock samples (n = 56) were collected to validate results using thin sections, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and spectral analyses. Field observations and laboratory analysis revealed that phyllic and propylitic alterations dominate the alteration zones in the study area. Argillic and iron oxides/hydroxides alterations were observed to a lesser degree. The results indicate that alteration maps prepared by OLI data using PCA for visual interpretation are more suitable than those of ETM+ due to a higher radiometric resolution and lower interference between vegetation and altered areas. As the spectral bandwidth of ETM+ band 7 covers absorption feature of propylitic alteration, better mapping of propylitic alterations is achieved using ETM+ data.     

豫西矿集区岩浆热液叠加改造型矿床特征

文章对豫西矿集区成矿类型进行了划分,归纳为3大类6个成矿类型.对岩浆热液叠加改造型矿床定义、成矿地质背景、构造转换与成矿进行了阐述,并通过对上宫金矿的矿石矿物共生组合、矿化蚀变特征、同位素地质特征研究,认为岩浆热液叠加改造型矿床赋矿地层古老,经历了长期的构造演化;成矿物质多种来源,具深源特性和造山带物质的痕迹;矿石的物质组成复杂,矿物共生组合种类繁多;成矿围岩遭受了强烈的变质、蚀变作用,蚀变岩石类型较多,矿化多期次叠加;具有多成因性.     

Occurrence,distribution, and composition of sulfide minerals,Boulder batholith,montana

Sulfide minerals in the Boulder batholith occur 1. as disseminated grains, visible in hand specimens; 2. in aplitic-pegmatitic pods and masses; 3. along joint and shear surfaces; 4. in hydrothermal veins; and 5. as minute masses within pyrite and silicate minerals and along intergranular sites. Hydrothermally altered rocks have an average sulfide content of 0.8 weight per cent, compared to an average of 0.01 per cent for unaltered rocks. Unaltered rock of the batholith may contain as much as 0.7 weight per cent sulfide. Sulfide inclusions in pyrite, the most abundant sulfide of the batholith, are common and represent a captured iss-phase which later changed to chalcopyrite plus pyrrhotite or mackinawite. Inclusions are most abundant, and more complex, in pyrites of hydrothermally altered and ore rocks. Electron-probe analyses show that pyrites of the Boulder batholith have very similar compositions to those found for pyrites from other ore deposits around the world.     

内蒙古朱拉扎嘎金矿ETM+数据提取蚀变异常方法研究

中国西北部大部分地区属于荒漠景观区,自然条件恶劣,常规的地质、物探、化探找矿工作难度大,如何借助遥感技术进行矿产资源勘查,是地质工作者积极探索的方向之一。本次工作选择内蒙古阿拉善盟朱拉扎嘎金矿作为实验区,利用卫星遥感ETM⁺数据进行蚀变异常提取方法研究。从蚀变矿物的波谱特征出发,对Crosta法则进行改造,建立了适合本区的异常提取模型：铁化蚀变异常提取以Band 2、 Band 3 、Band 4 、Band 5/Band 1主成分分析为核心技术;含羟基和碳酸盐化蚀变异常提取以Band 2、Band 4、 Band 5 、Band 7主成分分析为核心技术。运用该模型完成了矿区及其外围蚀变异常提取工作,经过地面光谱验证,检测到铁化、含羟基和碳酸盐化蚀变矿物,认为提取方法合理,提取结果可信。本次研究工作可以为矿区外围找矿提供新方法,为推广和应用遥感技术在荒漠景观区找矿提供参考。     

Geological controls on refractory ore in an orogenic gold deposit, Macraes mine, New Zealand

The Macraes mine is hosted in an orogenic (mesothermal) gold deposit in metasedimentary rocks of the Otago Schist belt. Much gold occurs within altered schist with minimal silica-addition, and this study focuses on altered schist ore types. The unmineralized host schists are chemically and mineralogically uniform in composition, but include two end-member rock types: feldspathic schist and micaceous schist. Both rock types have undergone hydrothermal alteration along a shallow-dipping foliation-parallel shear zone, but their different rheological properties have affected the style of mineralisation. Micaceous schist has been extensively recrystallized and hydrothermally altered during ductile deformation, to form ores characterized by abundant, disseminated millimetre-scale pyrite cubes (typically 1–2 wt% S) and minor silicification. The earliest pyrite contained Ni and/or As in solid solution and no gold was imaged in these pyrites or later arsenopyrite grains. The ore type is refractory and gold recovery by cyanide leaching is less than 50%, with lowest recovery in rocks that have been less affected by later brittle deformation. In contrast, hydrothermally altered feldspathic schist is characterized by mineralised black microshears and veinlets formed during shear-zone related brittle deformation. Microsheared ore has relatively low sulphur content (<0.7 wt%) and muscovite has been illitised during hydrothermal alteration. Pyrite and arsenopyrite in microshears are fractured and deformed, and contain 1–10 m blebs of gold. Later pyrite veinlets also contain micron- to submicron-scale inclusions of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, galena, and gold (10 microns). Gold in microsheared ore is more readily recoverable than in the refractory ore, although encapsulation of the fine gold grains inhibits cyanidation. Both microsheared ore and disseminated pyritic ore pass laterally into mineralised black shears, which contain hydrothermal graphite and late-stage cataclastic sulphides. This black, sheared ore releases gold readily, but the gold is then adsorbed on to gangue minerals (preg-robbed) and net cyanidation recovery can be less than 50%. Hence, low gold recovery during cyanidation results from (1) poor liberation of gold encapsulated in microcrystalline quartz and unfractured sulphide grains, and (2) preg-robbing of liberated gold during cyanidation. Introduction of pressure-oxidation of ore prior to cynidation has mitigated these issues.     

金坝金矿床地质特征

金坝超微粒型金矿床有30多个矿体,划分6个矿带.矿带NE向展布,带长350~2000m.矿体呈透镜状、似层状、串珠状产出.者桑复背斜控制矿化带的分布,断裂构造为含矿热液提供运移通道,次级构造控制矿体具体储存部位及矿体的形态产状.赋矿层位以上二叠统为主(含5个矿带),还有下中三叠统.容矿岩石有泥质粉砂岩、粉砂岩、粉砂质凝灰岩、凝灰岩、泥质白云岩、细碧岩、辉绿岩脉等.矿化类型:地层岩石破碎带蚀变岩型、脉岩破碎蚀变岩型以及石英脉型.围岩蚀变有黄铁矿化、毒砂化、硅化、碳酸盐化等.矿石类型按自然分类为氧化矿石和原生矿石;按岩石类型划分为凝灰岩类矿石,粉砂岩、粉砂质泥岩类矿石,泥质白云岩矿石,辉绿岩矿石以及细碧岩矿石.矿石含金品位0.5×10^-6~15.9×10^-6.原生矿石金属矿物有黄铁矿、毒砂、黄铜矿;氧化矿石金属矿物有褐铁矿、臭葱石等;而脉石矿物主要取决于各自的容矿岩石.矿石的化学组成:SiO₂比原岩低,(Fe₂O₃+FeO)高于原岩,富K贫Na.微量元素Au、Ag、As、Sb、Cu高于原岩.矿石为泥质结构、细碎屑结构、凝灰结构、辉绿结构、粒状结晶结构、环边环带结构;碎裂构造、角砾构造、浸染状构造、结核状蜂窝状构造等.金以微包体金的形式赋存于褐铁矿、毒砂、黄铜矿中.