Investigation of the Applicability of ASTER Satellite Images for Exploration of Barite Mineralization in the Bitlis Region

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 2, 211 - 218, 23.12.2019

Oya Cengiz , Erhan Şener

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the exploration for barite mineralization by using remote sensing data and field verification work. The mineralization is situated at the sites of Küllüce, Pertük, Haçinan, Kamurangazi, and Işıklı in the Bitlis province. Barite is found in vein, lens, and stratiform forms in the Devonian epimetamorphic rocks and carbonate rocks, and the Permian limestone. Due to presence of the ferrous and clay minerals along the contacts of the barite outcrops, alteration mineral indices were seen as an indicator on the satellite image. The ASTER satellite image is used for discrimination of lithologic contacts, identification of lineaments and mapping of alteration minerals. Alteration minerals (iron oxide and alunite, kaolinite, and illite-smectite-sericite) were used the methods of reflectance spectroscopy and spectral mapping using ASTER imagery by mineral indices of minerals in host rocks. Also, the mapping of calcite, muscovite and dolomite in the host rocks was performed by band ratio indexes. Lineaments and probable faults were revealed using a relief map obtained from the ASTER image and digital elevation model. They show an extension in dominant NE-SW direction with less N-S trending. Based on the interpretation of all data, overlapped by the ArcGIS software, it was determined that probable potential barite areas were compatible with tectonic lines of the field. It has been observed that three different barite outcrops were identified during the fieldwork. This work demonstrates the ability of ASTER image to provide information on barite and host rocks, which is a valuable for mineral exploration.

Keywords

Bitlis, ASTER, alteration minerals, barite exploration, lineament

Thanks

The authors thank Atila AKYILDIZ and Abdullah SUSMAZ, the engineers of ADO Mining Company, who assisted in the fieldwork of this research, and to AL Mining Company, providing financial support to the study.

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