International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 21 (2013) 184194

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International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and

Geoinformation
journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jag

Analysis of ASTER data for mapping bauxite rich pockets within high altitude
lateritic bauxite, Jharkhand, India
Arindam Guha a, , Vivek Kr. Singh b,1 , Reshma Parveen b,1 , K. Vinod Kumar a,2 , A.T. Jeyaseelan b,1 ,
E.N. Dhanamjaya Rao c,3
a

National Remote Sensing Centre, Indian Space Research Organization, Balanagar, Hyderabad 50037, India
Jharkhand Space Application Centre, 2nd Floor, Engineers Hostel-I, Dhurwa, Ranchi 834004, India
c
Department of Geology, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam, A.P. 530003, India
b

a r t i c l e

i n f o

Article history:
Received 19 March 2012
Accepted 7 August 2012
Keywords:
ASTER
Bauxite
Lateritic bauxite
Index based principal component
Topography

a b s t r a c t
Bauxite deposits of Jharkhand in India are resulted from the lateritization process and therefore are often
associated with the laterites. In the present study, ASTER (Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and
Reection Radiometer) image is processed to delineate bauxite rich pockets within the laterites. In this
regard, spectral signatures of lateritic bauxite samples are analyzed in the laboratory with reference to the
spectral features of gibbsite (main mineral constituent of bauxite) and goethite (main mineral constituent
of laterite) in VNIRSWIR (visible-near infrared and short wave infrared) electromagnetic domain. The
analysis of spectral signatures of lateritic bauxite samples helps in understanding the differences in the
spectral features of bauxites and laterites. Based on these differences; ASTER data based relative band
depth and simple ratio images are derived for spatial mapping of the bauxites developed within the
lateritic province. In order to integrate the complementary information of different index image, an
index based principal component (IPC) image is derived to incorporate the correlative information of
these indices to delineate bauxite rich pockets. The occurrences of bauxite rich pockets derived from
density sliced IPC image are further delimited by the topographic controls as it has been observed that
the major bauxite occurrences of the area are controlled by slope and altitude. In addition to above,
IPC image is draped over the digital elevation model (DEM) to illustrate how bauxite rich pockets are
distributed with reference to the topographic variability of the terrain. Bauxite rich pockets delineated in
the IPC image are also validated based on the known mine occurrences and existing geological map of the
bauxite. It is also conceptually validated based on the spectral similarity of the bauxite pixels delineated
in the IPC image with the ASTER convolved laboratory spectra of bauxite samples.
2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction
India is known for its bauxite resources. These resources are
primarily restricted in the lateritic provinces; as it is the case for the
bauxite deposits at the eastern part of the country. Laterites and
bauxites are the end product of same tropical weathering process.
The intensity of geochemical leaching process (governed by Eh
and pH of the solvent, which works as an driving force in leaching
of the host rock for residually enriching the deposit) of tropical
weathering controls whether bauxite will be formed or the laterite
under similar geologic and geomorphic set up (Norton, 1973;

Corresponding author. Tel.: +91 40 23884276; fax: +91 40 23772470.

E-mail addresses: arindamisro@gmail.com (A. Guha), vivekearth@gmail.com
(V.Kr. Singh), res1077@gmail.com (R. Parveen), vinodkumar k@nrsc.gov.in
(K.V. Kumar), jeyaseelanat@yahoo.com (A.T. Jeyaseelan).
1
Tel.: +91 651 2401719.
2
Tel.: +91 40 23884276.
3
Tel.: +91 891 2844717.
0303-2434/$ see front matter 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2012.08.003

Petersen, 1971). Delineation of the bauxite rich pockets within the

laterites is the primary requirement to initiate survey for bauxite
exploration. It is indeed a challenging task to separate bauxite
from laterite in spatial domain using conventional methods as the
two rock types are closely associated to each other and these rocks
are the result of same progressive process of chemical degradation
of same source rock. Consequently, the similar minerals can be
found in both the lithologies but with different amounts and a
continuous transition from one species to the other can also be
expected with the formation of different intermediate products in
the outcrop. In general; bauxite is rich in gibbsite, i.e., aluminum
hydroxides whereas laterite is enriched with different variants of
iron hydroxides and oxides. The present study has attempted to
delineate bauxite rich pockets within the lateritic province based
on the spectral character of bauxite in the visible near infrared and
shortwave infrared (VNIRSWIR) domain. In this effort, visible near
infrared and shortwave infrared (VNIRSWIR) data of the Advanced
Space borne Thermal Emission and Reection Radiometer (ASTER)
sensor is utilized for delineating such bauxite rich pockets within

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185

Fig. 1. Study area shown over ASTER false color composite; where R = 3rd band of ASTER, G = 2nd band of ASTER, B = 1st band of ASTER. (For interpretation of the references
to color in this gure legend, the reader is referred to the web version of the article.)

the lateritic province. ASTER sensor onboard at Terra satellite platform is one of the most advanced space borne multispectral sensor
in terms of its coverage of spectral domain, spectral resolution,
and spatial resolution (Abrams, 2000).
The main motivation for carrying out the research lies in the fact
that the research account of ASTER based indices for delineating
bauxite within the lateritic province is absent, although similar
indices are available for other minerals and economic rocks. A
comprehensive list of ASTER based mineral indices for mineral
and rock mapping is provided and discussed in the ASTER Mineral
Index Processing Manual compiled by Aleks Kalinowski and Simon
Oliver (http://www.ga.gov.au/image cache/GA7833.pdf). These
authors have proposed detail range of band combinations and
ratios for mineral mapping (van der Meer et al., 2012). Therefore,
there is a denite scope for further research on the analysis of the
ASTER data for mapping the bauxite deposit based on using new
mineral indices. Few attempts on targeting tropical bauxite using
ASTER data are available in the literature (Das, 2007; Sanjeevi,
2008). But their attempts are restricted to ASTER data processing
based on the statistically derived end members from image for
mineral mapping. Although identifying the end members from
image has its own advantage but the analysis of multispectral data
like ASTER based on the image-derived end members also has
some practical limitation as this approach often can delineate false
positives especially in a terrain with complex geological and land
cover elements (van der Meer and de Jong, 2001). Moreover, the
derivation of end members from the ASTER image has its own limitation as spectral proles of ASTER image is often generalized (as
it has only nine spectral channels in VNIRSWIR spectral domain)
and therefore limits the delineation of minerals which have similar
and closely spaced spectral features in their respective spectral
curves. Moreover, ASTER data is a multispectral data and capable
of highlighting signicant and broad spectral features of the
terrain elements based on the derivation of indices or ratio images.

Therefore it is essential to focus on using the approaches which can

separate these broad yet diagnostic spectral features of different
targets from each other. In this regard, in the present study, efforts
are made to derive new ASTER based indices based on the analysis
of the differences in the ASTER convolved laboratory spectral signatures of laterites (iron-rich-residue) and bauxites (Al-rich residue).
The indices thus derived are useful in separating the bauxites from
the laterites. Further, these indices are processed to derive a principle component for delineating the spatial distribution of bauxitic
pockets. PC image derived from the different indices allows the convergence of the complementary and supplementary information
derived from different indices to a single product. Bauxite pockets,
thus delineated are further delimited by the topographic controls of
bauxite formation (i.e., slope and altitude). The empirical relationship between the existing mines and the altitudes (with specic
slope ranges) is used as reference for xing topographic delimiting
factors of bauxite occurrence. These topographic parameters (slope
and altitude; suitable for bauxitization) are derived from the ASTER
digital elevation model. Further, the bauxite rich exposures delineated from ASTER data are draped over digital elevation model to
justify the bauxite exposures in light of its required geomorphic
set up of occurrences. The ideal geomorphic set up of bauxite exposures is localized depression or undulating cross sections exposed
at surface (where erosion may have removed the top lateritic cover
and exposed the bauxite). These areas are ideal to remove overlying
the lateritic cover to expose the bauxite at the surface by removing
the lateritic capping as it has been observed, in general, that the
bauxites are concentrated in the lower part of a lateritic section.
2. Study area and geology
The study area (Fig. 1) is situated at the central-western
portion of Jharkhand state, India and geologically is the part of the
Pre Cambrian shield of Indian Peninsula spread mainly in three

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Fig. 2. Geological map of the study area. (For interpretation of the references to color in the text, the reader is referred to the web version of the article.)
Source: Geological survey of India.

districts of Jharkhand: namely Latehar, Lohardaga, and Gumla.

It is located in the North West part of Jharkhand state between
latitude 23 17 23 23 N and longitude 84 14 84 28 E and located
at south-east of Lohardaga (Fig. 1). Bauxite deposits in Jharkhand
are generally found between altitudes of 960 m and 1075 m above
mean sea level (MSL) and occur in form of an extensive blanket
lying below the laterite cover on the at topped plateaus with
gently undulating topography (Roy chowdhury et al., 1965). It
occurs as segregated discontinuous boulders and also characterized by its blanket form over lateritic residuum. The bauxite
bearing area of Jharkhand belongs to the Pre-Cambrian shield of
Indian Peninsula. The area consists of mainly of Chhotonagpur
Granite Gneiss associated with intrusions of quartzite and older
basic rocks. The Pre Cambrian rocks of Singhbhum lie in the south.
On the north-western side of the area, Deccan trap is exposed at
the base of the laterite capping (Fig. 2).
Most of the laterites are of ferruginous nature and color of the
rock varies from red to various shades of pink with pisolitic texture.
Bauxite formation process is an extreme case in the lateritization
process where silica and iron oxides are progressively leached out
from the host rock and enriching the host rock in alumina (Bourman
and Ollier, 2002; Schellmann, 1994). The enrichment of alumina
and selective leaching of iron from laterite is essential to localize the
bauxite within laterite and this is achievable by low Eh condition
as both Al and Fe are soluble in the similar pH condition. Therefore,

micro-variability in terrain parameters; which can play vital role in

maintaining desired Eh could have played role in localizing bauxite
rich pocket within laterite above the extensive planation surface
(Petersen, 1971). Minor depression on the relatively at terrain
(where the presence of humus is signicant and can provide low
Eh condition) is suitable for bauxite segregation (Petersen, 1971).
Moreover, it is also observed from the vertical prole of lateritic
bauxite (Fig. 3) that the bauxites are concentrated below the laterite
and are capped by iron-oxide residue. Therefore surface exposures
of bauxite only can be expected in the deeply incised geological
section with undulating surface (where erosion has removed the
top lateritic cover and exposed the underlying bauxite).

3. Materials and methods

3.1. Data
3.1.1. ASTER data
ASTER (Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reection
Radiometer) acquires moderate resolution data in 14 bands, from
the visible to the thermal infrared wavelengths; and also provides
stereo viewing capabilities for digital elevation model creation
(ASTER, 2011). In the present study, nine spectral channels of ASTER
data (within the spectral domain of 0.522.430 m) are used. These

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187

Table 1
ASTER data specication (ASTER, 2010).
Data product

Spectral bands

VNIR

1
2
3N
3B
4
5
6
7
8
9

SWIR

Spectral range (m)

0.50.60
0.630.69
0.780.86
0.780.86
1.601.70
2.1452.185
2.1852.225
2.2352.285
2.2952.365
2.3602.430

Fig. 3. Generalized cross section of bauxite occurrence.

channels are known as ASTER visible near infrared (VNIR) and

short wave infrared (SWIR) channels. ASTER Level 1B data product
for VNIRSWIR channels are used for the study. ASTER Level 1B
data product contains radiance-at-sensor data with the geometric
correction applied to the data. ASTER SWIR channels are very
important for detecting absorption signatures of minerals with the

Fig. 4. Laboratory spectra of lateritic bauxite samples.

Spatial resolution (M)

Radiometric resolution

15
15
15
15
30
30
30
30
30
30

8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8
8

Al OH, Mg OH, Ca CO3 bonds whereas the ASTER VNIR channel

can highlight the absorption features of the iron-hydroxides.
ASTER sensor is better suitable for the spectral discrimination
studies for mapping economic rock like bauxite than the other
exiting multispectral sensors such as Landsat, SPOT, and Indian
Remote sensing (IRS) satellites (Zhang et al., 2007) since it has six
spectral channels each of which is suitable for mapping specic
lithology. In addition to this, ASTER derived digital elevation data
can provide very good topographic information suitable for understanding the terrain morphology (Abrams, 2000); which is also
essential for understanding the topographic controls for bauxite
formation.
ASTER data is the most widely used sensor for geological exploration in last decade especially for the spectral information of its
SWIR channels. ASTER data has been utilized extensively for mapping the alteration zones associated with hydrothermal deposit or
mapping specic lithology for different part of the world (Azizi
et al., 2010; Bedini, 2011; Crosta et al., 2003; Crosta and Filho, 2003;
Gabr et al., 2010; Galvao et al., 2005; Haselwimmer et al., 2011;
Hewson et al., 2005; Hosseinjani and Tangestani, 2011; Hubbard
and Crowley, 2005; Pour and Hashim, 2011, 2012). Moreover,
ASTER data also have been utilized for mapping lithological units
based on the thermal properties of rocks derived from the thermal
channels (Abrams, 2000; Chen et al., 2007; Ninomiya and Fu, 2005;
Rowan and Mars, 2005). However, there are few published literatures available on ASTER data utility in bauxite mapping. In the
present study, ASTER data is processed to derive spectral indices
for separating bauxite from laterite based on the analysis of ASTER
convolved spectral proles of lateritic bauxites. The detailed specication of ASTER data is given in Table 1.

Fig. 5. ASTER convolved laboratory derived spectral proles of lateritic bauxite samples. Proles are categorized into laterite-dominant and bauxite-dominant based on
similarities of these spectral proles with the ASTER convolved spectral proles of
goethite and gibbsite. These spectral proles are derivatives of spectral proles of
Fig. 4. In this gure, 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 are the position of the ASTER channels of interest
within VNIRSWIR domain. These bands are chosen to derive ASTER based indices
for bauxite mapping.

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Fig. 6. Density sliced ABI (a), ABRBD (b), and ALI (c) image delineating bauxite and lateritic. Bauxite content increase from blue to red for ABI, ABRBD images and same color
convention indicate increment in laterite content in for ALI image. (For interpretation of the references to color in this gure legend, the reader is referred to the web version
of the article.)

3.1.2. ASTER Global Digital Elevation Data (ASTER-GDEM)

ASTER Global Digital Elevation Data (ASTER-GDEM) is one of
the suites of ASTER standard data products (ASTER-GDEM). ASTER
GDEM standard data products are produced with 30 m postings,
and have Z accuracies generally between 10 m and 25 m root mean
square error (ASTER-GDEM). ASTER GDEM data is used to derive
altitude information and slope maps; important for understanding
the role of slope and altitude in the chemical weathering process
responsible for lateritization.
3.1.3. Spectral prole datasets
Spectral proles are collected with portable spectroradiometer
(Fieldspec 3) developed by Analytical System Device Incorporation
(ASD, 2011). The spectral signature of bauxite is used as the basis for
selection of ASTER band ratios to delineate the bauxite rich zones.
Fieldspec 3 spectroradiometer; used for the purpose of the present
study, has two types of detectors; one 512 elements Si photodiode detector operative in 3501000 nm and two separate, InGaAs
photodiodes operative in 10002500 nm. The spectroradiometer is
operative in the spectral rage of 3502500 nm domain and have
spectral resolution of 3 nm@700 nm and 10 nm@1400/2100 nm.
Table 2
Eigenvector statistics of principal components different index images. PC2 contains
negative value for both ABR and ABI. Therefore, PC2 contains correlative (similar)
information for both the index image delineating bauxite but laterite index has
inverse relation with these two bauxite index as it has positive value.
Index vs PC

PC1

PC2

PC3

ABRBD
ABI
ALI

0.186223
0.637078
0.747966

0.202581
0.720027
0.005026

0.961396
0.275123
0.663718

3.1.4. Geological map

The regional geological map (unpublished) of the study area
(1:50,000 scale) prepared by the Geological Survey of India (based
on the systematic eld mapping) is used as reference to compare
the results derived from the satellite data. Geological map is also
essential to understand the lithological variants and the source rock
for lateritization process.
3.2. Methods
3.2.1. Spectroscopic studies of laterite and bauxite
Understanding the spectral signatures of bauxite is the important aspect of the study. Bauxite (lateritic bauxites) samples are
collected in the eld from different parts of the study area. These
eld locations are well spread within the study area (Fig. 1). The
distribution of the eld points is limited due to the inaccessibility
by road; only few major parts are connected. This geographical set
up necessitates the satellite based investigation for bauxites.
Rock samples collected in the eld are made into rectangular
blocks (5 in. 6 in.) for spectral prole collection in laboratory
under controlled environment. Sample reectance is measured by
pointing vertically the measurement gun toward the sample. The
measurement gun contains the ber optics of the sensor. The light
source illuminates the sample at about 45 angle (with respect to
the vertical drawn over sample) and the measurement is taken by
keeping the fore optics of the spectroradiometer vertically above
the sample for making the phase angle is about 45 (phase angle is
the angle between the illumination source and the measurement
optics) to reduce the specular component of reected energy in the
measured signal. The reected energy resulted by volume scattering of the rock is true representative of the internal chemistry as
volume scattering process allows incident radiation to get reected

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189

Fig. 7. Slope map showing topographic extent of planation surface above which bauxites are concentrated; known bauxite occurrences are also shown. The unit for altitude
is meter and the slope is degree.

from the multiple grain boundaries of different constituent mineral. On the other hand, specular component of reected energy is
resulted from the surface roughness and restricted to few mineral
grain boundaries. The reectance of the rock surface is measured
based on the ratio of the radiant ux actually reected by a
sample surface to the radiant-energy that have been reected into
the same reected-beam geometry by an ideal (lossless) perfectly
diffuse (Lambertian) standard optical surface; which is irradiated
in exactly the same way as the sample (Nicodemus et al., 1977).
In present surface, Spectralon is used as perfectly diffuse standard
optical surface for reection calibration. Field of view of fore optics
used for recording the spectral proles is 25 . The measurement
gun is adjusted vertically in such a position so that it can create a
GSD (ground sampling diameter) to cover all the variability of the
sample. Twenty observations per sample are recorded and averaged to get the characteristic spectral curve for the rock sample.
For each rock sample, two to three observations; each for specic
sample spots are recorded and averaged to incorporate every
details of a sample. Spectral proles are also post-processed using
view spec software available with Fieldspec 3 spectroradiometer.
The spectral proles of laterite bauxite samples are illustrated
in Fig. 4. Spectral proles of lateritic bauxites are analyzed with
reference to the spectral proles of gibbsite, goethite, known as
the main constituent minerals in bauxite and laterite respectively.
These spectral proles of lateritic bauxite rock samples and spectral
proles of the main constituent minerals of laterite and bauxite
are further convolved to electromagnetic domain of ASTER data
to understand the waveform of these spectral proles in ASTER

bandwidth. These ASTER convolved generalized spectral proles

have few conspicuous dips in the spectral curve (Fig. 5). These
spectral features of the lateritic bauxite samples are compared
with the spectral features of gibbsite and goethite. The comparative
analysis is used as the basis for categorizing the lateritic bauxite
samples as bauxite-dominant or laterite-dominant (Fig. 5).
3.2.2. ASTER data preprocessing
Preprocessing steps are aimed for calibrating the ASTER
Level-1B image (georectied radiance data) to derive apparent
reectance image. ASTER Level-1B data is georeferenced, radiometrically corrected at-senor-radiance data. Short wave infrared
bands (SWIR) of ASTER data are calibrated to apparent reectance
using log residual method. Log residual (LR) method corrects for
instrument gain, topography and albedo effects from radiance data.
The log residual correction is considered as effective calibration
method to correct multiplicative atmospheric effects such as transmittance etc. (Azizi et al., 2010) and this correction method is
suitable for mineral mapping. But the visible near infrared (VNIR)
domain is affected by the additive atmospheric noise. Therefore
internal average relative correction method is applied to VNIR
(Azizi et al., 2010) channels of the data. After calibrating the ASTER
data using aforesaid methods, the apparent reectance image is
rescaled based on a scalar factor derived from the ratio of image
spectra and the laboratory spectra of spectrally conspicuous and
spatially well distributed terrain element (in this case, vegetation).
The quality of the nal apparent reectance product is validated by
comparing the image spectra of vegetation with that of the ASTER

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Fig. 8. Density sliced PC 2 derived from index images (ALI, ABI, ABRBD) is draped over ASTER FCC image for selected areas to illustrate for bauxite pockets (red zones are
bauxitic). Known occurrences are in congruence with the bauxitic zone delineated by this product. (For interpretation of the references to color in this gure legend, the
reader is referred to the web version of the article.)

convolved laboratory spectra of vegetation, water body, etc. After

validating the apparent reectance image, the reectance image is
used for further processing.
3.2.3. ASTER data processing
Processing of apparent reectance product is carried out based
on the analysis of the ASTER convolved laboratory spectra. It is
observed from the analysis of the spectral proles that the lateritic
bauxites can be broadly subdivided in two categories: lateritedominant and bauxite-dominant. Goethite and gibbsite are the
major constituent minerals of laterite and bauxite respectively and
are used to categorize the lateritic bauxite samples either as laterite
and bauxite based on the relative matching of diagnostic spectral
features of these minerals with the spectral features of the each lateritic bauxite samples. It is also observed that each lateritic bauxite
spectra matches either with the goethite or gibbsite spectra. One
set of samples has sharp fall in reectance from fourth channel of
ASTER data centered around 1.65 m with a dip at around 0.55 m
(rst channel of ASTER) (Fig. 5). This spectral behavior is in congruence with the absorption feature of the goethite. For another set of
samples, reectance falls toward higher wavelength bearing SWIR
channels from the fourth channel of ASTER data (Fig. 5). This particular set has strong absorption at 2.26 m (7th channel of ASTER)
with its shoulder at 2.16 m (5th ASTER channel) and 2.33 m
(8th ASTER Channel). This spectral behavior is similar to the typical spectral behavior of gibbsite. Based on these differences in the
spectral signatures of laterite and bauxites; band ratio, relative
band-depth images are derived to delineate bauxite rich pockets
within the lateritic counterpart. Index based principal component

(IPC) of ratio images are used to delineate bauxite pockets within

laterite province. The eigen-vector matrix of the PC is the guiding
factor to understand the contribution of each index to each principal component (Rowan and Mars, 2006). This eigen matrix is the
basis for the selection of suitable PC for delineating the bauxite.
3.2.4. Derivation of indices and index based principle component
analysis
Processing of ASTER data is carried out based on the analysis of
ASTER-convolved spectral proles of lateritic bauxite samples. In
order to delineate bauxites within the laterite province, the ratio
of band 5 and band 7 of ASTER data is derived. This ratio image
is derived based on the observation that the reectance of ASTER
convolved spectral proles of bauxite dominant laterite bauxite
samples sharply falls at band 7 (central wavelength 2.26 m) in
comparison to the reectance of same samples in the band 5 (central wavelength 2.16 m) (Fig. 5). A relative band depth (RBD)
image is also prepared to highlight this characteristic absorption
feature of bauxite rich samples using 5, 7, and 8th bands of the
ASTER data by using the absorption feature of bauxite at band 7
with the shoulders of absorption features placed within the spectral range of band 5 and band 8 of the ASTER data. Relative band
depth image is a three point ratio method; characterizes shape
of the absorption feature better than conventional ratio method
and therefore can delineate spatial distribution of bauxite more
accurately than the conventional ratio method. In addition to aforesaid ratio images, a complementary laterite delineation index is
also derived to highlight the laterite dominant samples of lateritic
bauxite samples using band 4 and band 1 of ASTER data as it has

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191

Fig. 9. The part of the bauxitic province (shown as square) in the ASTER FCC image (where R = 3rd band, G = 2nd band, B = 1st band) (a) is draped over enhanced ASTER digital
elevation data (b) to show topographic set up of bauxite exposures (marked as red color). The bauxites are exposed at the edge of the at undulatory terrain where deep gully
erosion has removed the overlying laterites; which otherwise are covered with laterite. The location of Guradari mines (eld photograph (c) is also enclosed) is illustrated
over the bauxite map draped enhanced digital elevation model (b). (For interpretation of the references to color in this gure legend, the reader is referred to the web version
of the article.)

been observed that lateritic or iron rich (goethite or iron hydroxide

rich) lateritic bauxite samples have very low reectance in the rst
band of ASTER (0.556 m) in comparison to the 4th band (1.65 m)
(Fig. 5). The ratio images and RBD image thus derived are listed
below:

ASTER based Laterite Index (ALI) = Band 4/Band 1

indices and therefore this PC highlights bauxite rich zone based on

correlative information of two index images delineating bauxites.
As the loading of these two indices in the PC-2 image is negative
therefore bauxite rich zone would be darker in this PC image. On the
other hand, eigen vector loading of laterite index or ratio image is
positive in the PC-2 image. Therefore this PC-2 image is multiplied
with 1 to illustrate the bauxite rich zones with brighter shades;
which is further density sliced with red color in color graded image
to delineate bauxite rich zones in red color. This classied image is
presented in Fig. 8.

Color shaded ALI, ABI, ABRBD images are illustrated in Fig. 6.

Selective principal component (PC) analysis using different bands
of multispectral data are attempted by many worker (Moore et al.,
2008). In the present study, an index based principal (IPC) image
is derived from the aforementioned ratio images. This is aimed to
enhance the bauxite rich zones based on the correlative information of ratio and relative band depth images for bauxite (ABI and
ABRBD) and complementary information of the ALI index (laterite
index) image. It is observed from the eigen matrix analysis of IPC
image (an integrated image of three PCs derived from the three
index/ratio images) that the second principal component (PC2) has
negative but correlative value for both the ABRBD and ABI (Table 2)

3.2.5. Analysis of processed output in conjunction with the

topography
Topography plays an important role in lateritic-bauxite formation. In the study area, it is also observed that the known
bauxite mines occur above the 1000 m altitude (Fig. 7). It is also
observed that the slope condition changes around this contour
(Fig. 7) and the surface above this altitude is essentially a planation
surface. Therefore 1000 m contour is used as limiting boundary
of bauxitization. Bauxite exposure distribution derived from different indices is therefore delimited by the topographic boundary
characterized by the 1000 m contour. The validity of the bauxite

ASTER based bauxite Index (ABI) = Band 5/Band 7;

ASTER based bauxite relative band depth (ABRBD)
= (Band 5 + Band 8)/2 Band 7

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Fig. 10. (a) Location of the image spectra collected for validation. (b) Comparative analysis of image spectra of bauxite locations with the ASTER-convolved laboratory spectra
of bauxites.

exposures delineated by spectral mapping methods is enhanced

once it is correlated and delimited by geomorphic or topographic
information (Kruse, 2012).
4. Results
The two indices derived for bauxite (ABI and ABRBD) and one
for laterite (ALI) by processing the ASTER data. ALI image provides
the complementary information of the ABI, ABRBD images. The
complementary nature of laterite index image with the other two
bauxite index image justies the fact that the bauxite rich pockets
and lateritic pockets are mutually exclusive in the lateritic province
(Fig. 6). On the other hand, relative band depth image (ABRBD) and
simple ratio image (ABI) both are attempted for demarcating the
disposition of the bauxite and similar result on disposition of bauxite is also an indication of the efciency of these indices in bauxite
mapping based on the enhancement of the spectral feature of bauxite as analyzed in the ASTER convolved bauxite spectra. Moreover,
the complementary nature of bauxite indices and supplementary
nature of laterite index to the bauxite indices provide the self

validation of the different indices as a tool for separating bauxite

from the laterite. In order to utilize the complementary information of these ratio images, all the ratio images are integrated to
derive the principal components (PC) to transfer the correlative
information of these ratio images to a composite Image. Based on
the analysis of eigen matrix of PC; it has been observed that the
PC-2 of the ratio images has same signs of eigen vector loading for
both the bauxite ratio (ABI) and bauxite band depth image (ABRBD)
and the signs of eigen-vector loading of laterite index image (ALI)
is reversed in this PC-2. Therefore PC-2 is density sliced to separate
bauxite from laterite (Fig. 8). The outline of the bauxite distribution
derived from the geological map of the area has been draped over
the graded bauxite map (Fig. 8).
5. Discussion
It is observed that the density sliced index derived PC-2
image (which encompasses the correlative information two bauxite
indices, i.e., ABI and ABRBD) is suitable for delineating the bauxite pockets within the lateritic province. The bauxite rich surface

A. Guha et al. / International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 21 (2013) 184194

exposures; thus delineated are contained well within the known

extent of bauxite (Fig. 8). As bauxites are often capped by laterite;
therefore lateritic surface covers are also present in association
with these bauxite exposures (Fig. 8). Moreover, bauxite map (in
this case density sliced principal component image) is draped
over digital elevation model of the area to understand the topographic disposition of the bauxite exposures in the area (Fig. 9).
Geomorphologically at (low dipping) and geologically stable (not
perturbed by geological deformation for longer geological time)
surface; which remains exposed to the tropical weathering for considerable geological time is suitable for residual enrichment for
lateritization or bauxitization. In the area, known bauxite mines are
located above a height of 1000 m (Fig. 7) and localized over a low
dipping surface (essentially a planation surface) suitable for extensive leaching for laterite formation. It has been also observed that
the bauxites are formed at the base of the geological section and
these bauxites are often capped by the laterite (Fig. 3). Therefore,
topographic set up like the dipping slope or the incised depression (developed by gully erosion) or the geological section at the
edge of the at plateau top only can expose the bauxites; which are
otherwise covered under the laterite or the lateritic soil. Similar disposition of the bauxite pockets (Fig. 9) are observed when we drape
density sliced index derived PC-2 image over the digital elevation
model after delimiting bauxite occurrences based on the altitude
(derived from ASTER GDEM). This helps in clarifying mineral occurrences in light of its topographic set up of the eld occurrence
(Zhang et al., 2007). Moreover; image spectra are collected from
the bauxite rich zones delineated from the index derived PC-image
(Fig. 10a) and compared with the ASTER convolved laboratory spectral prole of bauxite (Fig. 10b). The matching of spectral proles
derived from the image locations of the bauxite exposures derived
from the PC-image with the laboratory spectra of bauxite specially
for the diagnostic absorption signature at 2.26 m helps in clarifying the bauxite enrichment map.
6. Conclusion
The approach and results of the study bring out the utility of the
broad spectral information of ASTER data in visible-near infrared
and short wave infrared (VNIRSWIR) domain for demarcating
bauxite from laterite within the vast lateritic province. The spectral contrast between laterite and bauxite is notable in VNIRSWIR
domain and these contrasts are utilized effectively in generating
ASTER based relative band depth and ratio images for their separation. Moreover, index derived principal component image (IPC)
is used as an combined input of the ASTER based ratio images
(ABI, ALI) and ASTER based relative band depth (ABRBD) image for
delineating bauxite exposures within the laterite and therefore it
provides the convergence of both the correlative and complementary information of the ASTER based indices used for delineating
the bauxite pockets within the laterite.
But mineral deposits like lateritic bauxites, which are the result
of tropical weathering process, are topographically controlled.
Therefore, the bauxite distribution pockets delineated based on
spectral information is also claried with its topographic controls
of bauxitisation for conceptual validation. The congruence of
spectral information with the geomorphic information is essential
for delineating deposits like bauxites (which occurs within lateritic
country). The extent of bauxite distribution derived from existing
geological map is also used as an another basis for the validation.
The spectral validation of bauxite rich pockets delineated from the
index derived from the PC image is also attempted by comparing
the image spectra of bauxite locations of the IPC image with the
laboratory spectra of bauxite. This also ensures the effectiveness
of IPC image in delineating the bauxitic pockets within the vast
lateritic province.

193

Acknowledgments
Authors are grateful to Dr. V.K. Dadhwal, Director, NRSC for his
support and encouragement. Authors are also thankful to Department of Geology and Mines; Govt. of Jharkhand for sponsoring this
project and extending all kind of help during the eldwork.
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