You can manage bookmarks using lists, please log in to your user account for this.
Media type:
E-Article
Title:
The Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping Test Data Set
Contributor:
Laukamp, Carsten;
Haest, Maarten;
Cudahy, Thomas
Published:
Copernicus GmbH, 2021
Published in:
Earth System Science Data, 13 (2021) 3, Seite 1371-1383
Language:
English
DOI:
10.5194/essd-13-1371-2021
ISSN:
1866-3516
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
Abstract. The integration of surface and subsurface geoscience data is critical forefficient and effective mineral exploration and mining. Publicly accessibledata sets to evaluate the various geoscience analytical tools and theireffectiveness for characterisation of mineral assemblages and lithologies ordiscrimination of ore from waste are however scarce. The open-access RockleaDome 3D Mineral Mapping Test Data Set (Laukamp, 2020;https://doi.org/10.25919/5ed83bf55be6a) provides an opportunity forevaluating proximal and remote sensing data, validated and calibrated byindependent geochemical and mineralogical analyses, for exploration ofchannel iron deposits (CIDs) through cover. We present hyperspectralairborne, surface, and drill core reflectance spectra collected in thevisible–near-infrared and shortwave infrared wavelength ranges (VNIR–SWIR;350 to 2500 nm), as well as whole-rock geochemistry obtained by means ofX-ray fluorescence analysis and loss-on-ignition measurements of drill coresamples. The integration of surface with subsurface hyperspectral data collected inthe frame of previously published Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping casestudies demonstrated that about 30 % of exploration drill holes were sunkinto barren ground and could have been of better use, located elsewhere, ifairborne hyperspectral imagery had been consulted for drill hole planning.The remote mapping of transported Tertiary detritals (i.e. potential hostsof channel iron ore resources) versus weathered in situ Archaean bedrock(i.e. barren ground) has significant implications for other areas where“cover” (i.e. regolith and/or sediments covering bedrock hosting mineraldeposits) hinders mineral exploration. Hyperspectral remote sensingrepresents a cost-effective method for regolith landform mapping requiredfor planning drilling programmes. In the Rocklea Dome area, vegetationunmixing methods applied to airborne hyperspectral data, integrated withsubsurface data, resulted in seamless mapping of ore zones from theweathered surface to the base of the CID – a concept that can be applied toother mineral exploration and mineral deposit studies. Furthermore, theassociated, independent calibration data allowed the quantification of iron oxidephases and associated mineralogy from hyperspectral data. Using the RockleaDome data set, novel geostatistical clustering methods were applied to thedrill core data sets for ore body domaining that introduced scientificrigour to a traditionally subjective procedure, resulting in reproducibleobjective domains that are critical for the mining process. Beyond the previously published case studies, the Rocklea Dome 3D MineralMapping Test Data Set has the potential to develop new methods for advancedresource characterisation and develop new applications that aid explorationfor mineral deposits through cover. The white mica andchlorite abundance maps derived from airborne hyperspectral, presented here for the first time, highlight theadditional applications of remote sensing for geological mapping and couldhelp to evaluate newly launched hyper- and multispectral spaceborne systemsfor geoscience and mineral exploration.