Mapping alteration minerals using sub-pixel unmixing of ASTER data in the Sarduiyeh area, SE Kerman, Iran

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. This paper is an attempt to introduce the role of earth observation technology and a type of digital earth processing in mineral resources exploration and assessment. The sub-pixel distribution and quantity of alteration minerals were mapped using linear spectral unmixing (LSU) and mixture tuned matched filtering (MTMF) algorithms in the Sarduiyeh area, SE Kerman, Iran, using the visible-near infrared (VNIR) and short wave infrared (SWIR) bands of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) instrument and the results were compared to evaluate the efficiency of methods. Three groups of alteration minerals were identified: (1) pyrophylite-alunite (2) sericite-kaolinite, and (3) chlorite-calcite-epidote. Results showed that high abundances within pixels were successfully corresponded to the alteration zones. In addition, a number of unreported altered areas were identified. Field observations and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of field samples confirmed the dominant mineral phases identified remotely. Results of LSU and MTMF were generally similar with overall accuracy of 82.9 and 90.24%, respectively. It is concluded that LSU and MTMF are suitable for sub-pixel mapping of alteration minerals and when the purpose is identification of particular targets, rather than all the elements in the scene, the MTMF algorithm could be proposed.