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The synergistic use of multi-scale remote sensing data for the identification of hydrothermal alteration patterns in Los Frailes, Spain

•FieldSpec4, SisuROCK, AisaFenix and WorldView-3 results are used synergistically.•Spectral data characterise hydrothermal alterations typical for massive sulphides.•Chlorite and white mica mapping results coincide mostly between the data scales.•Mapping discrepancies are explained by different data...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of applied earth observation and geoinformation 2022-11, Vol.114, p.103034, Article 103034
Main Authors: Blumberg, Anne, Schodlok, Martin C.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:•FieldSpec4, SisuROCK, AisaFenix and WorldView-3 results are used synergistically.•Spectral data characterise hydrothermal alterations typical for massive sulphides.•Chlorite and white mica mapping results coincide mostly between the data scales.•Mapping discrepancies are explained by different data types and analysis methods.•Multi-scale spectral data can help to identify potential exploration targets. Remote sensing data can be successfully applied in mineral resource prospecting and exploration. With the increasing number of remote sensing sensors and methods, the application of multi-scale remote sensing data has met a broad audience in the geological remote sensing community over the last few years. Multi-scale remote sensing data close the scale gap between distal (satellite) and proximal (laboratory) remote sensing data, offering both a general and detailed overview of the target and allowing a synergistic use. In this study, the volcano-sedimentary hosted massive sulphide ore deposit Los Frailes in the east of the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB) in Spain is investigated for the first time with multi-scale remote sensing techniques. A typical hydrothermal alteration zonation is associated to the massive sulphide ore body in Los Frailes, which is characterised by an inner chlorite-rich zonation showing a strong Fe-enrichment and a peripheral muscovite-rich zonation, which is moderately enriched in Fe. The characterisation of these zones support traditional mineral exploration techniques especially in the prospecting phase by detecting regions of interest, thereby reducing time and cost consumption. By evaluating the synergistic use of multi-scale remote sensing data for massive sulphide exploration, an enhanced application for the economic prospecting and exploration of mineral resources in Los Frailes is introduced. Optical data are used for the detection, identification and characterisation of chlorite and white mica occurrences and compositions. A drill core is analysed with the FieldSpec4 Hi-res hyperspectral point spectrometer. Rock samples are investigated in the laboratory using the SisuROCK hyperspectral core imaging station. AisaFENIX hyperspectral field-based and WorldView-3 multispectral satellite data of the open pit are analysed. The mineral(-group) identification and characterisation are performed with either spectral feature fitting methods (hyperspectral) or mineral indices (multispectral). Hyperspectral analyses show Mg-/Al-substitutions d
ISSN:1569-8432
1872-826X
DOI:10.1016/j.jag.2022.103034