Using reflectance spectroscopy and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer data to identify bauxite deposits in vicinity of Az Zabirah, northern Saudi Arabia

Bauxite samples from deposits in northern Saudi Arabia were identified the laboratory using spectral reflectance measurements (at 0.3–2.5 ?m) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results revealed that bauxite are composed mainly of goethite, gibbsite, boehmite with small amounts kaolinite, hematite, quartz. spectra presence significant iron oxides 0.5 0.87 accompanied by water 1.4 1.9 aluminum hydroxide 2.2 ?m). convolved Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) characterized an feature ASTER band 6 demonstrated principal components analysis PC2 is best component for delineating deposits. Fractional abundances derived a matched-filtering method. This study demonstrates applicability spectroscopy data to provide information distinguishing economically important minerals visible near-infrared shortwave-infrared arid semiarid environments such as Arabia.