Monitoring sedimentary areas from mine waste products with Sentinel‐2 satellite images: A case study in the <scp>SE</scp> of Spain

Abstract Torrential rainfall regimes, among others, are the origin of accelerated soil erosion. The Spanish southeastern Mediterranean region is characterised by an arid climate regime affected extreme erosion episodes with important loss sediments. Soil effects even more noticeable in areas where has been anthropically degraded, as mining district Sierra Minera de Cartagena . present research focuses on monitoring and mapping changes sediment distribution iron oxides hydroxyl (OH − ) bearing minerals caused a cold drop known 'DANA' September 2019 Rambla del Beal This short rambla fed sediments from its drainage basin residues, irrigating wide agricultural area. When discharges overflow channel, residues spread over floodplain reach ecological protected coastal lagoon Mar Menor objective study was mineral materials eroded source sedimented during DANA. carried out using pre‐ post‐DANA image Sentinel‐2 satellite. After masking vegetation, urban water bodies, different band ratios (B4/B3, B11/B12, B8A/B6) Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification were applied. Sediment deposits identified wider after Iron increased their extension 11.08% central area (B3/B4 R 2 0.84) hydroxyl‐bearing 8.95% 's headwaters (B11/B12 0.71). SAM (with 0.1 rad threshold overall accuracy 87.33%) allowed differentiation two ferric (haematite goethite) one hydrous sulphate (jarosite). Additionally, ratio images spatially overlaid land uses map layer cadastre order to plot most transported These results highlighted (land uses) deposition, oxidation processes occur rapidly these areas. However, grassland scrubland highest content minerals, accumulated places, which favours hydrolysis reactions. Highlights events can relocate large volumes contaminated former allows mine waste iron‐sulphate weathering alteration. Spatial mineralogical pattern controlled geomorphology flood dynamics. proposed digital analysis short‐term evolution