Mapping Hot Spring Deposits with Aviris at Steamboat Springs, Nevada
نویسنده
چکیده
1.0 INTRODUCTION Active and fossil hot springs systems occur worldwide, and share many common characteristics that indicate similar genetic histories (White 1955; Waring 1965; Rhinehart 1980; White 1981; Bowen 1989). This research studies the occurrence and characteristics of hot springs at Steamboat Springs, Nevada using Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data. Both highand low-altitude AVIRIS were used to map and characterize the hot springs system. AVIRIS data identified several alteration minerals, including hydrothermal silica in both active and fossil sinter, and alunite and kaolinite associated with inactive acid-sulfate hot springs. Study of the nature and spatial distribution of specific hydrothermal alteration minerals at this hot springs using hyperspectral remote sensing provides insight into the geochemistry of the system, and to the occurrence and characteristics of hot springs systems in the fossil record, potentially leading to new and/or improved exploration methods for epithermal ore deposits.
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