Hyperspectral remote sensing of white mica: A review of imaging and point-based spectrometer studies for mineral resources, with spectrometer design considerations

• Published in: Remote sensing of environment 2022-06, Vol.275, p.113000, Article 113000
• Main Authors: Meyer, John M., Kokaly, Raymond F., Holley, Elizabeth
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Absorption; AVIRIS; Bandpass; Base metal; Chemical composition; Deposits; Geo-spectral deposit model; Geology; Gold; Illite; Imaging spectrometers; Imaging spectroscopy; Iron oxides; Mica; Mineral deposits; Mineral occurrences; Mineral resources; Muscovite; Orogeny; Position measurement; Remote sensing; Reviews; Root-mean-square errors; Sampling; Sedimentary rocks; Sensitivity analysis; Signal to noise ratio; Spectra; Spectral resolution; Spectrometer design; Spectrometers; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Unconformity; Uranium; White mica
• ISSN: 0034-4257; 1879-0704
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rse.2022.113000

Over the past ~30 years, hyperspectral remote sensing of chemical variations in white mica have proven to be useful for ore deposit studies in a range of deposit types. To better understand mineral deposits and to guide spectrometer design, this contrib ution reviews relevant papers from the fields of remote sensing, spectroscopy, and geology that have utilized spectral changes caused by chemical variation in white micas. This contribution reviews spectral studies conducted at the following types of mineral deposits: base metal sulfide, epithermal, porphyry, sedimentary rock hosted gold deposits, orogenic gold, iron oxide copper gold, and unconformity-related uranium. The structure, chemical composition, and spectral features of white micas, in this contribution defined as muscovite, paragonite, celadonite, phengite, illite, and sericite, are given. Reviewed laboratory spectral studies determined that shifts in the position of the white mica 2200 nm combination feature of 1 nm correspond to a change in Aloct content of approximately ±1.05%. Many of the reviewed spectral studies indicated that a shift in the position of the white mica 2200 nm combination feature of 1 nm was geologically significant. A sensitivity analysis of spectrometer characteristics; bandpass, sampling interval, and channel position, is conducted using spectra of 19 white micas with deep absorption features to determine minimum characteristics required to accurately measure a shift in the position of the white mica 2200 nm combination feature. It was determined that a sampling interval