Identification of hydrothermal alteration zones of the Baogutu porphyry copper deposits in northwest China using ASTER data

• Published in: Journal of applied remote sensing Vol. 11; no. 1; p. 015016
• Main Authors: Zhang, Nannan, Zhou, Kefa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers 28.02.2017
• Subjects: mixture-tuned matched-filtering; constrained energy minimization; principal component analysis; advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer; band ratio logical operator
• ISSN: 1931-3195; 1931-3195
• DOI: 10.1117/1.JRS.11.015016

Remote sensing technology plays a vital role in the initial stages of ore deposits exploration, with special significance in arid and semiarid regions. Advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) creates opportunities for geologists and many researchers to study the extraction of hydrothermal alterations of the porphyry copper and epithermal gold deposits. ASTER data were used to map distribution of hydrothermal alteration of deposits in the Baogutu region which is located in western Junggar, Xinjiang, China, including Baogutu II and Baogutu V deposits. Band ratio logical operator (BRLO), principal component analysis (PCA), mixture-tuned matched-filtering (MTMF), and constrained energy minimization (CEM) techniques were used for detailed hydrothermal alteration mapping. The alteration zones were identified using BRLO and PCA. The minerals subject to alteration were extracted by MTMF and CEM. The results were validated through field observation, spectral measurements, and petrographic studies. By comparing the extraction results and accuracy rates of four methods, CEM boasts the highest accuracy and identifies the altered minerals corresponding to three types of alterations at accuracy of over 80%. The identifying result of CEM method indicates that the prospect areas that were located in the southeast part of the Baogutu II rocks and in the southwest part of the Baogutu V rocks are valuable for further exploration.