Advances on Exploration Indicators of Mineral VNIR-SWIR Spectroscopy and Chemistry: A Review

Establishing exploration vectors to infer the properties of ore-forming fluids, locate blind ore bodies with aid visible near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) spectroscopy, chemistry minerals, is a new research interest for economic geology. Common alterations clay including sericite, chlorite, epidote, alunite, kaolinite, tourmaline, etc., are ideal objects study indicators due their sensitivity variations in nature hydrothermal fluid. The diagnostic spectral feature vary spatially systematically physicochemical change. VNIR spectroscopy can characterize REE-bearing minerals directly. Obtaining or chemical parameters VNIR-SWIR electron probe micro-analyzer (EPMA) laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) help establish vectors. This paper summarizes recent advances mineral (MEIs) chemistry, compares them different regions deposits. We found that some MEI spatial variation trends random, even same type deposit show an opposite trend. controlling factors limit application established MEIs vague. Conducting further on petrology mineralogy aids observation under microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), TESCAN Integrated Mineral Analyzer (TIMA), EPMA suggested discover alteration assemblage, stages, behaviors “the pathfinder elements” related mineralization. Based above research, fluids control over be inferred. Refining theoretical basis critical understanding popularization MEIs.