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Remote Sensing Exploration Techniques
Next-generation remote sensing sensors are under development and the remote sensing data have been applied to mineral exploration as a result of JOGMEC's efforts to use these technologies to raise exploration efficiency.
Development of Remote Sensing Exploration Techniques
Remote sensing is capable of collecting data from a wide area through the use of a sensor system mounted on a satellite or aircraft. There are two types of sensors used for mineral exploration: optical sensors that measure the spectral data of sunlight reflected from the Earth's surface, and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors that transmit microwaves and receive the back scatter waves from the Earth's surface. The remote sensing data are used in mineral exploration to understand the geology and geological structures and to identify areas with potential for mineralization.
JOGMEC has been developing techniques for application of remote sensing data for mineral exploration since 1976. By 2000, JOGMEC had developed techniques for spectral data processing using optical sensor data and lineament interpretation using SAR data through the use of Landat, SPOT, JERS-1 and ASTER. From 2001 through 2005, JOGMEC developed techniques to use the data derived from hyperspectral sensors and multi-polarization SAR sensors for mineral exploration. Data from hyperspectral sensors reveal the distribution of minerals on the Earth's surface more accurately than before. This allows easier identification of mineralization. Multi-polarimetric SAR sensors can obtain data regardless of weather conditions. For example, they can obtain data from areas that optical sensors cannot obtain due to thick cloud cover. These processing and interpretation techniques generate advanced and very detailed geological and mineralization information. This ultimately improves the efficiency of mineral exploration. From 2006, JOGMEC started a new project using ALOS (Advanced Land Observing Satellite) data for geological mapping in vegetated areas.
Kalgoorlie region, Australia
Lithofacies classification through processing of data from L-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar and published geological map
