Geology, Mineralization, Fluid Inclusion and Stable Isotope of the Early Cretaceous Sn and Associated Metal Deposits in the Southern Great Xing’an Range, NE China: A Review

The Southern Great Xing'an Range(SGXR) hosts a number of Early Cretaceous Sn and associated metal deposits, which can be divided into three principal types according to their geological characteristics: skarn type deposits, porphyry type deposits and hydrothermal vein type deposits. Fluid inclusion assemblages of different types of deposits are quite different, which represent the complexities of metallogenic process and formation mechanism. CH_4 and CO_2 have been detected in fluid inclusions from some of deposits, indicating that the ore-forming fluids are affected by materials of Permian strata. Hydrogen and oxygen isotope data from ore minerals and associated gangue minerals indicate that the initial ore fluids were dominated by magmatic waters, some of which had clearly exchanged oxygen with wall rocks during their passage through the strata. The narrow range for the δ~(34)S values presumably reflects the corresponding uniformity of the ore forming fluids, and these δ~(34)S values have been interpreted to reflect magmatic sources for the sulfur. The comparation between lead isotope ratios of ore minerals and different geological units' also reveals that deeply seated magma has been a significant source of lead in the ores.     

Metallogenic Mechanism of the Tianbaoshan Pb—Zn Deposit,Sichuan

The Tianbaoshan Pb-Zn deposit in Sichuan Province,exhibiting open-space-filling and /or replacement textures,occurs as being of vine style in the Sinian(Late Proterozoic) carbonate rocks,and is simple in ore composition.A systematic study of lead isotope and rareearth elements reveals that the ore-forming materials were derived from multiple sources.The ultimate source of the sulfur in all stages in seawater sulfate but the reducing mechanisms are different,The carbon was derved from marine carbonate and organic matter,The ore-forming fluid,meteoric in origin,belongs to a Ca^2 -Mg^2 -Cl^--Hco3^- type of weak acidic to alkalic solutions with a salinity of about 5wt% NaCl.The ore was formed at the depth of about 1 km from 150 to 250℃ during the main stage of ore deposition.The heated meteoric water,after extracting ore materials from wall rocks,evolved into ore-forming solution with a low salinity, in which metals were trasported as chloride complexes such as PbCl,ZnCl and ZnCl.The metal-bearing solution moved upward along deep faults to low-pressure zones,where the metal ions reacted with reduced sulfur and were precipitated as sulfied minerals.The textures of the minerals were controlled by the rate at which the reduced sulfur was supplied.     

超基性岩矿物化学特征与成矿关系讨论

The most productive chromite ore deposits are formed by crystallizing from chromite-ore magmas under definite physico-chemical conditions. The formation of chromite ore is controlled mainly by the degree of differentiation of ultrabasic magma. How to diagnose uitrabasic magmatie differentiation is key to the understanding of the mechanism of formation of chromite ore. It is considered that chromite ore is derived from ulttabasic rocks. The rock-forming minerals include olivine, pyroxene and spinel. The minerals are well homomorphous minerals. The contents of major chemical elements in these minerals show little variation. On the contrary in those ultrubasie rocks which show no association with chromite ore deposits the contents of the elements vary over a wide range. Abundant data available.indicate that chromite ore deposits arc derived from chrore.ire-ore magmas resulting from the transport and accumulation of chromic elements. Since the transport and accumulation of chromic elements follows the statistical law,we must study the mechanism of formation of ehromite ore from the statistical point of view. If chromite ore is formed from spinel under the action of gravitation o.r other dynamic actions, we must elucidate the mechanism of formation of chromite ore from the dynamic viewpoint.     

Strate—bound Anorthites in the Dachang Sn—Polymetallic Ore Field,Guangxi,China

From the petrological study of ore-hosting focks which contain large anorthits crystals and the occurrence and chemical composition of anorthites and related minerals,the authors consider that the large anorthite crystals are of authigenic origin. The distribution characteristics of anorthites,i.e.,they are distributed along the bedding and structurally weak zones but not restricted to synsedimentary slump structures,and the relationship for some elements between anorthites and other minerals indicate that anorthites have resulted from reaction of circulating alkaline solutions rich in Al and Si with carbonated during the Indosinian orogeny.The results of this work suggest that the association of authigenic anorthites with bedded orebodies in the Dachang ore field may be the evidence that the mineralization is related to circulating underground hot waters.     

A Study of Occurrences of Ag in Pb-Zn-Cu Ore Deposits in China

A systematic study of occurrences of silver in 156 Pb-Zn-Cu ore deposits indicates that silver mainly occurs in nonferrous metal ore deposits in forms of association and paragenesis. It occurs mainly as independent minerals in nature and occasionally as ion adsorption, isomorphous or amorphous silver minerals. Nearly 190 silver minerals have been discovered in China. Their shapes, constituents, textures, grain sizes, embedded types, distribution patterns, mineral assemblages and metallogenic series suggest that these characteristics are closely related to geneses of deposits and dependent of ore-forming conditions. Pb, Zn and Cu sulphides are the main carrier minerals of silver. The partition of silver in ore is constrained by the mineralization intensity, grain size and embedded form of silver minerals and mineral assemblages.     

REE Characteristics of the Kalatongke Cu-Ni Deposit, Xinjiang, China

On the basis of the study on the REE geochemistry of the ore minerals and host rocks of the Kalatongke Cu-Ni deposit, Xinjiang, it is indicated that the major ore minerals, sulfides, were sourced from the host mafic-ultramafic magma. Characterized by low REE content of sulfide, such a Cu-Ni sulfide deposit occurring in the orogen is obviously different from that on the margin of the craton. Because the mafic-ultramafic rocks from the Cu-Ni sulfide deposit occurring in the orogen is water-rich and the REEs of some sulfides show a particular "multiple-bending" pattern, which suggests coexistence of multiple liquid phases (fluid and melt), the sulfide melt possibly contains a great deal of hydrothermal fluids and increasingly developed gases and liquid-rich ore-forming fluids after the main metallogenic epoch (magmatic segregation stage).     

Chemical composition of the ore and occurrence state of the elements in Jingbaoshan platinum-palladium deposit

The Jingbaoshan platinum-palladium deposit is China＇s largest independent PGM （platinum-group metals） deposit so far discovered. There are eleven kinds of useful components in the ore： Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh, Au, Ag, Cu, Ni, and Co. The platinum-group elements, gold and silver occur in the form of minerals in ores. twenty-five kinds of precious metal minerals have been found, of which twenty one belong to the platinum-group minerals. The minerals are very small in grain size. Copper occurs mainly as copper sulfide with a small amount of free copper oxide, and the beneficiated copper accounts for 95.21%. Nickel occurs mainly as nickel sulfide, and some nickel silicate and nickel oxide occur in the ore. The beneficiated nickel accounts for 72.03%. Cobalt occurs mainly as cobalt sulfide, and there are some cobalt oxide and other kinds of cobalt. The beneficiated cobalt accounts for 77.58%.     

Geochemistry of the Jinman Vein—Type Copper Deposit,Western Yunnan Province,China——I.Element Geochemical Characteristics

The Jinman copper deposit,which is situated on the northern margin of the Lanping-Simao back-arc basin,western Yunnan Province,is a silver-bearing,high-grade vein-type copper deposit.Comprehensive element geochemical studies of the host rocks and hydrothermal minerals revealed the regularities in the distribution,mobilization and transport of elements from the host rocks to hydrothermal minerals.In conjunction with the fluid inclusion and isotope data,it is suggested that the ore-forming fluid was derived mainly from a deep source characterized by CO2 enrichment and reduction in nature.It is also suggested that the oreforming materials come largely from a deep source.although the contribution of the country rocks should not be ruled out.It is also found that some hydrothermal minerals are possessed of MREE-enrichment patterns.It is deduced that the REEs in the deep-source ore fluid were transported in the form of CO3^2- complexes and were deposited in a continental basin(or a hot-spring basin).     

Re–Os and U–Pb Geochronology of the Erlihe Pb–Zn Deposit, Qinling Orogenic Belt, Central China, and Constraints on Its Deposit Genesis

The Erlihe Pb–Zn deposit is an important mine of the Pb–Zn metallogenic zone in the South Qinling Orogen. It has been considered a sedimentary exhalative deposit in previous investigations because the ore body occurs concordantly at the transitional location of an upright fold. Re and Os isotopic analyses for paragenetic pyrites with sphalerite and galena from the ore body have been used to determine the timing of mineralization and to trace the source of metallogenic materials. The Re–Os isotopic data of four pyrite samples construct an isochron, yielding a weighted average age of 226±17 Ma (mean square weighted deviation=1.7), which is considered the main mineralization age. A dioritic porphyrite vein sample, showing weaker mineralization, was also dated using the SHRIMP zircon U–Pb isotopic method to constrain the youngest metallogenic age of the ore deposit, because it distributes along a group of tensional joints cutting not only the upright fold in the deposit field, but also the main ore bodies. The dioritic porphyrite sample yields a weighted mean 206Pb/238U age of 221±3 Ma, which is slightly younger than the Re–Os isotopic isochron age of the pyrites, considered as the upper age limit of the mineralization, namely the ending age of the mineralization. The Os isotopic compositions of sulfide minerals distribute within a range between Os isotopic compositions of the crust and the mantle, indicating that the ore deposit can be derived from magma-related fluid, and the metallogenic materials are most likely derived from the mixing source of the crust and the mantle. The Erlihe Pb–Zn deposit and associated dioritic porphyrite vein, important records of Qinling tectonic–magmatism–mineralization activities, were formed during the Triassic collisional orogeny processes.     

Sulfur isotopic composition of the Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit,Northwest Guizhou Province,China：Implications for the source of sulfur in the ore-forming fluids

The Tianqiao Pb-Zn ore deposit of Guizhou Province, China, is located in the mid-east of the Si-chuan-Yunnan-Guizhou Pb-Zn-Ag multi-metallic mineralization area, which is representative of the Pb-Zn ore de-posits in this area. It consists of three main orebodies, whose Pb+Zn reserves are more than 0.2 million ton. This paper analyzes the sulfur isotopic composition of these orebodies. The data show that the ore minerals (galena, sphalerite, pyrite) in these orebodies are enriched in heavy sulfur, with δ34SV-CDT values varying between 8.35‰ and 14.44‰, i.e. the δ34SV-CDT values of pyrite are between 12.81‰ and 14.44‰, the mean value is 13.40‰; the δ34SV-CDT values of sphalerite are range from 10.87‰ to 14.00‰, the mean value is 12.53‰; the δ34SV-CDT values of galena are range from 8.35‰ to 9.83‰, the mean value is 8.84‰, and they have the feature of δ34Spyrite>δ34Ssphalerite>δ34Sgalena, which indicates the sulfur isotope in ore-forming fluids has attained equilibrium. The δ34S V-CDT values of the deposit are close to those of sulfates from carbonate strata of different ages in the ore-field (15‰), which suggests that the sulfur in the ore-forming fluids should be derived from the thermo-chemical sulfate reduction of sulfates from the sedimentary strata.     

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…     

利用卫星数据建立排山楼热液石英脉型金矿模型

航天矿床标志模型(SDS)是遥感技术在矿床勘探中应用的结果.在遥感数据(陆地卫星MSS、TM和ETM+图像)解译、地质特征及金矿化类型研究的基础上,总结了不同控矿因素及其鉴别特征.通过如下步骤建立模型:1)选择适当的图像处理技术;2)研究主要控矿因素(构造、地层、蚀变);3)确定鉴别标志,建立矿床图像模型,优化找矿靶区.应用该模型优化靶区已获得成功.卫星影像处理显示,在3个区域(南带、中带、北带)具有反映金成矿的强烈蚀变特征.实地调查证明,这3个预测区具有金矿化,它们与常规勘探方法(地球物理、地球化学)发现的其他矿化相似.该模型在排山楼地区的应用结果表明,卫星数据在金矿普查中可以发挥重要作用.     

Utilizing image processing techniques in lithologic discrimination of Buwatah area, Western Arabian Shield

The main task of this article is the evaluation of the IHS color transformation fusion, color composite ratios, and principal component analysis techniques for lithologic discrimination of the basement rocks exposed at Buwatah area, Western Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia. Landsat ETM+ images were prepared and used to perform this task using PCI Geomatica software. IHS fusion technique was conducted through four main processing steps: (1) registration of the multispectral image (7, 4, and 2 in RGB) to the panchromatic image and then resample it to the same spatial resolution as that of the panchromatic image; (2) transformation of the three multispectral bands from RGB to IHS space; (3) substitution of the intensity value from the high spatial resolution panchromatic band; and finally (4) back transformation to RGB. The band ratios 5/7, 3/1, and 4/3 displayed in RGB, respectively, were used to produce the color composite ratio image. The first principal component (PC1), the second principal component (PC2), and the third principal component (PC3), displayed in RGB, respectively, were used to construct the color composite principal component image. The resultant images successfully discriminated the exposed rock units in the study area and a lithologic map has been constructed that is subjected to precise field verification. The stratigraphy of the area under consideration starts with metavolcanics and associated volcaniclastics as an oldest rock unit, followed by granodiorite–diorite, pink granite, biotite granite, acidic and basic dykes, and Cenozoic volcanics. A new rock unit (biotite granite) has been introduced that was not represented in previous mapping of the considered sector. The biotite granite is verified by field and petrographical studies.     

通过遥感对矿产资源开采中环境影响的研究--以阜新煤矿和排山楼金矿为例

阜新地区地处华北地台,富含煤和金矿床.呈东西向分布的太古宙和元古宙变质地层在华力西期、印支期和燕山期的变形和岩浆活动中发生隆起.金矿赋存于隆起的前寒武纪变质岩石中.成煤期为晚石炭-早二叠纪、早中侏罗纪、晚侏罗-早白垩纪.阜新煤矿和排山楼金矿是辽宁省的主要煤、金产地.
由于开采物中的有用物质只占很小的比例,因此提取有用物质的方式不可避免地要破坏当地的环境.矿山开采的每一步骤都对环境产生着负面影响.应用遥感资料进行矿山管理,是采用基于地表物体光谱反射的可视近红外(VNIR)遥感和短波红外(SWIR)遥感,以及基于物体热发光的热红外(TIR)遥感,利用不同的地表光谱反射,将相似的物体区分、分类、填图,并进行土地资源分析.野外工作包括在阜新煤矿和排山楼金矿确定岩石蚀变类型,采集标本,构造测量,对矿山环境进行数码拍照.陆地卫星MSS、TM和ETM+数据是分析研究的基础.应用ERDAS IMAGING软件处理卫星数据.并用ERDAS MapSheets和ViewFinder软件划图.应用各种图像处理技术进行图像增强和物体分辨.从卫星图像上直接测量排山楼金矿和阜新煤矿露天采场的多边形周长和面积.从卫星图像上可以看出,阜新煤矿从1980年到2000年环境的恶化.矿山开采产生的废矿堆不仅对矿区造成破坏,由于它们邻近市区,也通过视觉污染和噪音污染构成了潜在的环境污染源.开采活动对环境影响的另一个方面就是地面下沉,这是由地下开采造成的.它对地表的影响是明显的.本研究的重点是煤矿开采造成的地面下沉.与金矿脉的开采不同,煤矿的开采要移去数米厚的整个煤层.其结果不可避免地导致上覆地层的垮塌.排山楼金矿和阜新煤矿的另一个环境污染源来自矿石的处理(提纯和浓缩).金矿和煤矿都采用重力分离和浮选的方法.排山楼金矿目前采用先进的氰化-碳吸附选矿方法.作为补救措施,现在对用于浮选的化学剂的选择不仅要考虑其效益,而且要将其对环境的损害降到最低.尾矿处理也是影响环境的一个重要问题.阜新煤矿和排山楼金矿通常将尾矿倾倒地附近的人工坑内.这些区域虽然不至于对景观造成严重破坏,但很难在其表面恢复植被.而且,从该区域排出的水含有强酸和有毒的金属离子,一旦流入自然水系,将给水生生物造成大面积损害.堆放尾矿的区域一旦干燥,将产生另一个环境问题——粉尘污染.基于这些发现,提出如下建议：
（ 1）采矿过程中环境不断恶化的事实说明,两个矿山在控制露天开采方面仍有不足.虽然移动矿体上覆岩石或盖层是矿山开采的必要前提,但矿产资源的采掘必须对自然的保护给予更多的重视.应更加注重盖层的回填,植被、湿地、沼泽的恢复,控制溢出物,合理利用废物.
（2）地方政府应参与地区内矿产资源开发项目的立项、审批工作.政府在法律框架内干预、控制矿山开采行为中的环境和土地利用问题.     

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.     

Exploration of copper deposits in Wadi El Regeita area, Southern Sinai, Egypt, with contribution of remote sensing and geophysical data

Three types of hydrothermal alterations are recorded in Wadi El Regeita area, argillic, phyllic, and propylitic. Whole-rock analysis of representative samples of the alteration halo (1) shows a Cu, Au, and Ag content up to 1.7 wt.%, 1.6 g/t, and 4 g/t, respectively; in the alteration halo (2), these metal contents are up to 1.3 wt.%, 1.4 g/t, and 3 g/t, following the same order. The integrated remote sensing and geophysical data, as well as geological field verification, show that Wadi El Regeita area includes promising Cu ores within two hydrothermal alteration haloes. Spatial data analyses of lineaments from Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) band ratio image (7/5, 5/4, 3/1) reveal the presence of alteration haloes that potentially may host Cu mineralization at south and north of El Regita Cu mine. Gravity interpretation indicates that the surveyed area is dissected by NE–SW fault zones in the central part, near Wadi El Regeita Cu mine. Ground magnetic survey data revealed that the surveyed area includes six magnetic bodies at depths ranging from 32 to 90 m, possibly recording the presence of mineralized and hydrothermally altered andesitic dykes. The half length of these dykes ranges from 600 to 1,070 m; their half thickness from 30 to 123 m and their half width from 48 to 531 m. Dyke locations coincide with surface alteration haloes (1) and (2) as indicated by the ETM band ratio image processing. The final assessment of the area, however, needs more detailed geological and geophysical studies with contributions of remote sensing techniques.     

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。     

Alteration Information Extraction by Applying Synthesis Processing Techniques to Landsat ETM＋ Data： Case Study of Zhaoyuan Gold Mines, Shandong Province, China

Satellite remote sensing data are usually used to analyze the spatial distribution pattern of geological structures and generally serve as a significant means for the identification of alteration zones. Based on the Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper （ETM＋） data, which have better spectral resolution （8 bands） and spatial resolution （15 m in PAN band）, the synthesis processing techniques were presented to fulfill alteration information extraction： data preparation, vegetation indices and band ratios, and expert classifier-based classification. These techniques have been implemented in the MapGIS-RSP software （version 1.0）, developed by the Wuhan Zondy Cyber Technology Co., Ltd, China. In the study area application of extracting alteration information in the Zhaoyuan （招远） gold mines, Shandong （山东） Province, China, several hydorthermally altered zones （included two new sites） were found after satellite imagery interpretation coupled with field surveys. It is concluded that these synthesis processing techniques are useful approaches and are applicable to a wide range of gold-mineralized alteration information extraction.     

Temporal merging of remote sensing data to enhance spectral regolith,lithological and alteration patterns for regional mineral exploration

Remote sensing has been widely used to map geological structure, regolith materials and hydrothermal alteration minerals in different regions of the world, based largely on the spectral characteristics of clay/carbonate and iron oxide minerals. Given that features related to minerals may form very subtle patterns in Landsat imagery, finding suitable methods for enhancing the spectral information due to alteration minerals has been the subject of much research since the satellites were launched. Although multispectral sensors such as Landsat do not have enough spectral resolution to distinguish between specific minerals, effective processing of the data does yield useful images for regional exploration and targeting when combined with a good understanding of the associated landforms. ASTER and various airborne systems can now provide useful, high-resolution mineral information. However, the cost and time taken to acquire and process good resolution spectral data should now be balanced against the enhanced spectral discrimination possible using temporal merging, or data stacking, from the existing Landsat data archive dating back to 1972. One critical characteristic of the spectra related to surface mineral composition is its persistence over time. This study proposes a further enhancement to the data using temporal merging to create images that are both easier to interpret, and more reliable indicators of lithology and alteration. The new approach is to select a large number of scenes, typically separated by two or more years, and to merge the data for each band to give a cumulative spectral signature. The technique of stacking Landsat data to create a new dataset with much greater spectral depth is termed Landsat TM3, or Landsat TM Temporal Merge for Terrain Mapping. This emphasises not only the process used to create the dataset, but also the dominant use to which these data are ideally suited, namely mapping geological and mineral-related terrains.