| The purpose of this study was to use a combination of high spatial resolution airborne visible, near infrared, short wave infrared (VNIR/SWIR) and thermal infrared (TIR) image data to remotely identify and map exposed alteration minerals around both active and ancient hydrothermal systems, and the mineral by-products of weathered mine tailings. Three case study areas were evaluated: (1) Steamboat Springs, as an active geothermal system; (2) Geiger Grade and Virginia City, as ancient hydrothermal systems; and (3) Virginia City, as a historic mining district. Remote sensing data from the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS), as well as data from newly developed airborne imaging spectrometers: SpecTIR Corporation's airborne hyperspectral imager (HyperSpecTIR), the MODIS-ASTER airborne simulator (MASTER), and the Spatially Enhanced Broadband Array Spectrograph System (SEBASS) were acquired and processed into mineral maps based on the unique spectral signatures of image pixels. VNIR/SWIR and TIR field spectrometer data were collected for both calibration and validation of the remote data sets, and field sampling, laboratory spectral analyses and XRD analyses were made to corroborate the surface mineralogy identified by spectroscopic methods. In all of the case study areas the minerals mapped included sinter, quartz/chalcedony, albite, calcite, dolomite, hydrous sulfate minerals (tamarugite, alunogen, gypsum and hexahydrite), jarosite, hematite, goethite, alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolinite, montmorillonite/muscovite, and chlorite. The results were synthesized into single thematic mineral maps and indicate that the combination of multi-channel infrared remote sensing data is an effective technique for the unique identification and mapping of weathering and alteration minerals that are characteristic of active and fossil hydrothermal systems, as well as acid mine drainage potential.; This study provides many examples of the advantages of high spatial and high spectral resolution measurements, and the utility of combining image data from multiple wavelength regions, and should be helpful in placing some limits on, and setting some goals for, the specifications of future airborne and space borne remote sensing systems for geological applications. The next advance in geologic remote sensing technology should combine the advantages of high spatial resolution, wide swath, high spectral resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio with measurements in both VNIR/SWIR and TIR spectral regions. |
