Mapping the Expressions of Ore-Forming Processes Using Remote Spectral Imagery and Geochemical Techniques

Dear Colleagues,

The upsurge in consuming raw materials entices geologists to pinpoint further mineralized zones—a challenging undertaking to which mapping the expressions of ore-forming processes is fundamental. Remote sensing and geochemical techniques are broadly applied to serve this purpose and are pushing the envelope of mineral exploration. Remote sensing data offer synoptic observation from the Earth, which can be especially suitable of regional geological mapping and ore mineral exploration. Recently, orogenic gold, porphyry copper/gold, massive sulfide, epithermal gold, podiform chromite, uranium, magnetite, and iron oxide copper–gold deposits have been successfully explored using remote sensing satellite imagery. Remote sensing image processing methods for mineral exploration are developing and assimilating with other sources of geological data for detailed mapping high potential zones of ore mineralizations. Geochemical techniques in conjunction with remote sensing data can provide comprehensive information about mineralogy, geochemistry, and spectral characteristics of the alteration zones and mineral assemblages associated with ore mineralization. Integration of spectral and geochemical properties of alteration zones can provide detailed/low-cost information to locate drilling points in exploration campaigns for the discovery and evaluation of ore deposits. Further to this, recent advances in geochemical techniques can facilitate the recognition of deep-seated, blind, or even buried mineral deposits. This Special Issue is particularly motivated by the latest achievements of statistical techniques and machine learning models, which can be specifically applied to fuse remote sensing and geochemical data for mineral exploration purposes. 

The topics of interest include but are not limited to:

• Remote sensing analysis of multispectral and hyperspectral imagery;
• Fusion of remote sensing and geochemical data;
• GIS and remote sensing integration for mineral exploration modeling;
• Reflectance spectroscopy and geochemistry of rocks and minerals;
• Interpretation of ASD spectroscopy and XRD, XRF and ICP-MS analysis for mineral exploration;
• Recent advances in remote sensing information fusion for mineral exploration;
• Machine learning techniques for integrating remote sensing and geochemical data;
• Multivariate, compositional techniques applied to geochemical and remote sensing data;
• Delineation of weak geochemical anomalies pertaining to blind or covered deposits;
• Three-dimensional modeling of geochemical anomalies.

Dr. Amin Beiranvand Pour
Dr. Mohammad Parsa
Dr. Omeid Rahmani
Guest Editors

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• Remote sensing
• Ore mineral exploration
• Geochemical data
• Integration of exploration data
• Deep learning techniques
• Machine learning
• Geostatistics