Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275 – 290

www.elsevier.com/locate/oregeorev

Hydrothermal alteration mapping using ASTER data in the

Infiernillo porphyry deposit, Argentina
Inés Di Tommaso a,⁎, Nora Rubinstein b,1
a
Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR), Av. Julio A. Roca 651, 8° piso Sector 1, (1322) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
b
Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Pabellón 2 Ciudad Universitaria (1428) Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
Received 14 April 2005; accepted 22 May 2006
Available online 21 August 2006

Abstract

The Infiernillo Cu–(Mo) porphyry deposit is located in the San Rafael Massif, in southern Mendoza Province, Argentina. It is
hosted by and genetically related to Lower Permian Gondwanan volcanic rocks, which developed in a magmatic arc tectonic
setting. The alteration zone has an oval shape about 3 km × 2 km in size, with a NNE–SSW strike. It consists of a small central
quartz neck with appreciable hematite surrounded by an intense quartz-injected zone with local pervasive potassic alteration.
Outwards there is a well-developed phyllic halo with intense bleaching which consists of pervasive and vein-type silicification,
sericitization and pyritization. Cu and Mo anomalies are approximately coincident and are located between the silicified zone and
the phyllic halo. In the outer part of the alteration zone, small polymetallic veins with pyrite, arsenopyrite, galena and minor
chalcopyrite, sphalerite and electrum in quartz gangue crop out.
An Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER), with three visible and near infrared (VNIR)
bands, six shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands and five thermal infrared (TIR) bands, was used to characterize the Infiernillo
porphyry deposit alteration area. A circular zoning pattern was clearly observed in the VNIR + SWIR band combination. Spectral
analysis of the surface reflectance SWIR detected 2.20 and 2.26 μm absorptions. Field data and sample spectroscopic analyses
obtained using a GER 3700 spectral radiometer and a SWIR reflectance spectrometer (Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer PIMA)
showed a good correlation with the ASTER data. The 2.20 μm absorptions, due to Al-hydroxyl, reveal the presence of clay
minerals (Al-illite, kaolinite) and sericite, whereas the 2.26 μm absorption due to Fe-hydroxyl, resulted from jarosite.
The field samples were also analyzed with a TIR portable spectrometer Micro-FTIR model 102. The TIR was useful for
detecting surface silica and potassic alteration through analysis of five-band surface emissivity data.
ASTER images provided preliminary mineralogic information and geo-referenced alteration maps at low cost and with high
accuracy. In this way ASTER has been proven to be a powerful tool in the initial steps of ore deposit exploration.
© 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Remote sensing; ASTER; Alteration minerals; Mining exploration; Argentina

1. Introduction

⁎ Corresponding author. Tel.: +54 11 4349 3286. Multispectral image data have been successfully used
E-mail address: inesditommaso05@yahoo.com.ar for mapping hydrothermal alteration, particularly since
(I. Di Tommaso). the launch of the LANDSAT Thematic Mapper instru-
1
Tel./fax: +54 11 4576 3329. ment, with the addition of two bands in the shortwave
0169-1368/$ - see front matter © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2006.05.004
276 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290

infrared region in which many clay minerals have their Data Analysis Center (ERSDAC), Japan (http://www.
more diagnostic absorption features (Hunt and Salis- ersdac.or.jp/). A radiometric- and geometric-corrected,
bury, 1970). orthogonal projected (Level 3A) image and digital
Since 2000, Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emis- elevation model (DEM) Level 4 and also surface
sion and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) multispectral reflectance (Level 2B AST_07) and thermal emissivity
data have been used in mineralogical and lithological data set (Level 2B AST_05) were available from EROS
studies (Ninomiya, 2002, 2004; Rowan et al., 2003; Data Center (http://edcimswww.cr.usgs.gov/).
Rowan and Mars, 2003). ASTER is a cooperative effort The aim of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of a
between NASA and Japan's Ministry of Economic cloud-free ASTER image recorded on December 4,
Trade and Industry (METI). The instrument was 2002, of the San Rafael Massif, Mendoza Province,
launched on board NASA's TERRA spacecraft in Argentina, focusing on remote-sensing mineral altera-
December 1999. ASTER is an advanced multispectral tion mapping of an area which has poor background
imager which covers a wide spectral region of the information and has no previous remote-sensing data
electromagnetic spectrum from the visible near infrared analysis. In this way, image and sample spectral features
(VNIR) to the thermal infrared (TIR). were analyzed and compared to ASTER spectral
The ASTER spectral range was selected for detecting resolution at the VNIR + SWIR wavelength and TIR
the main alteration mineral spectral features. The instru- wavelength regions.
ment consists of three separate subsystems with a total of
14 bands. The VNIR subsystem obtains optical images 2. Geological setting
(0.52 to 0.86 μm), with a spatial resolution of 15 m.
Stereoscopic capability in the track path is also imple- The San Rafael Massif is located in southern
mented by the 3B band in VNIR. The shortwave infrared Mendoza Province, Argentina (Fig. 1). A summary of
(SWIR) subsystem also scans optical images of six bands the main units (Table 2) shows that Precambrian outcrops
(1.6 to 2.43 μm), with a spatial resolution of 30 m. The are scarce in the area and include Upper Proterozoic high
TIR subsystem obtains optical images of five bands grade metamorphic rocks, granites, aplites and pegma-
(8.125 to 11.65 μm) with a spatial resolution of 90 m tites. During the Ordovician and Silurian, carbonate and
(Table 1). The swath width of the optical system is 60 km, clastic sediments were deposited at a passive margin and
but a pointing function is provided in the cross-track subsequently metamorphosed and deformed during the
direction for covering a distance of 172 km at the equator, Famatinian (Lower Paleozoic) Orogeny. Marine sedi-
between neighboring orbits (Fujisada et al., 2001). mentation continued during the Devonian to Lower
The Infiernillo ore deposit (34°40′S; 68°48′W) is Permian and ended with the San Rafael Orogenic Phase,
within a 15 × 15 km subset of the ASTER scene. The which folded this sequence and marked the beginning of
data set was available from the Earth Remote Sensing Gondwanan magmatism. This magmatic cycle produced
a large volume of volcanic and pyroclastic rocks
Table 1 widespread across the whole area. There are many ore
ASTER spectral passband deposits that, based on stratigraphic constraints, were
Subsystem Band Spectral Spatial genetically related to this major magmatic episode.
no. range resolution From the Upper Cretaceous to the Pliocene, the
(μm) (m) geological record shows a sequence of continental
VNIR 1 0.52–0.60 15 sedimentary rocks and volcanic arc and back-arc
2 0.63–0.69 products, including pyroclastic and silicic to basaltic
3N 0.76–0.86
volcanic rocks that were deformed by the different
3B 0.76–0.86
SWIR 4 1.60–1.70 30 phases of the Andean Orogeny. Back-arc basaltic
5 2.145–2.185 volcanism and sedimentation continued from the
6 2.185–2.225 Pliocene to the Pleistocene (Narciso et al., 2001;
7 2.235–2.285 Sepúlveda et al., in press-a,b).
8 2.295–2.365
9 2.360–2.430
TIR 10 8.125–8.475 90 2.1. Gondwanan magmatism and associated ore
11 8.475–8.825 deposits
12 8.925–9.275
13 10.25–10.95 During most of the Paleozoic, the southern portion of
14 10.95–11.65
South America formed part of Gondwanaland. From the
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290 277

Fig. 1. Geology of the San Rafael Massif, showing the location of the Infiernillo ore deposit and the polymetallic veins (2 to 6) outcropping in the area
(after Carpio et al., 2001). 1: Infiernillo (quartz neck); 2: Cardoza; 3: Carmen; 4: Santa Teresa — San Francisco; 5: Rosarito; 6: La Celia.
278 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290

Table 2
Stratigraphy of the San Rafael Massif (Carpio et al., 2001)
Quarternary Holocene Aragonite and travertine (Agua de Loyola Formation); basalts (Tromen Formation);
gravels, sands, loess, silts, clays and salt deposits
Pleistocene Basaltic lavas, pyroclastites and agglomerates (Chapúa and El Puente Group and
Yaucha Formation); conglomerates, sandstones and siltstones (Los Mesones and
La Invernada Formation); Aragonite and travertine (Las Peñas Sur Formation);
gravels, sands and silts
Tertiary Pliocene Basalts, andesites, dacites, mesosilicic to acid dikes and breccias and pyroclastic
rocks (Nevado and El Zaino Formation and Chapúa Group); conglomerates, sandstones,
siltstones, claystones and tuffs (Rio Seco del Zapallo Formation); gravels, sands and
silts (Cajón de Mayo Formation)
Miocene Sandstones, siltstones, claystones and tuffs (Aisol Formation); andesites, dacites and
rhyolites (Cortaderas Formation)
Mesozoic Cretaceous Upper Conglomerates, sandstones, siltstones and claystones (Punta del Agua Formation)
Triassic Lower Basic volcanic and hypabyssal rocks; ignimbritic, volcanic, intrusive and hypabyssal
mesosilicic to acid rocks; sedimentary rocks (Quebrada del Pimiento and Puesto Viejo
Formations, El Portillo Group)
Paleozoic Permian Upper Basic volcanic and hypabyssal rocks; rhyolitic lavas, ignimbrites, tuffs and breccias
(Quebrada del Pimiento and Choique Mahuida Formation)
Lower Mesosilicic to acid hypabyssal and volcanic rocks, ignimbrites, tuffs and sedimentary
rocks (Cerro de Las Yeguas and Agua de los Burros Formation and Cochicó Group)
Carboniferous Upper Quartzites, sandstones, siltstones, wackes and shales (Agua Escondida and
El Imperial Formation)
Lower Granites, granodiorites and diorites (Piedra de Afilar and Plutonitas Agua de la
Chilena Formations)
Devonian Quartzites, sandstones, siltstones, wackes and shales (Río Seco de los
Castaños Formation)
Silurian Metaquartzites and schists (La Horqueta Formation)
Ordovician Gabbros, diorites and andesitic porphyries (Gabro Loma Alta and Plutonitas La
Bordales Formations)
Mudstones, metaquartzites, schists, quartzites, grainstones, sandstones, siltstones,
(Ponon Trehue, Lindero and La Horqueta Formations)
Precambrian Proterozoic Metaquartzites and intrusives (Cerro de la Ventana Formation)

Carboniferous to the Triassic, a magmatic belt was
active at the western margin of this supercontinent. A
foreland basin developed behind an arc in the
Carboniferous, and its deposits were deformed during
the San Rafael Orogenic Phase, which is related to the
eastward migration of the magmatic arc during the early
Permian (Kleiman, 2002). Volcanism started synchro-
nously with this deformation stage and ceased in the
Lower Triassic.
Two different suites can be distinguished within
this volcanic sequence which is known overall as the
Choiyoi Group (Fig. 1). The Lower Permian suite
(Lower Section), consisting of andesites and dacitic to
low-silica rhyolitic ignimbrites with associated sedi-
mentary rocks, has geochemical characteristics that
indicate a subduction setting (Llambías et al., 1993;
Kleiman, 1999). The Upper Permian–Lower Triassic
suite (Upper Section), mainly composed of rhyolitic
ignimbrites, andesitic dikes, high-silica rhyolitic
ignimbrites and lava flows, dacitic to rhyolitic
subvolcanics, and alkalic basaltic andesites, has
geochemical characteristics transitional between sub-
duction and continental intraplate settings (Malvicini
and Delpino, 1989; Ramos, 1993; Kleiman, 1999;
Kleiman and Salvarredi, 2001). Thus, the volcanic
character of the Choiyoi Group shows a transition
between a compressive to a progressive extensional
tectonic regime that ends with slightly alkaline and
bimodal rifting magmatism in Middle Triassic times
(Malvicini and Delpino, 1989; Ramos, 1993; Kleiman,
1999).
A number of Cu–(Mo) porphyry type deposits are
hosted by the Lower Section of the Choiyoi Group.
Examples include Infiernillo, La Chilca, San Pedro and
Cerro Tres Hermanos (Fuschini, 1968; Delpino et al.,
1993; Rubinstein et al., 2000, 2002a,b). These deposits
are genetically related to dacitic and to rhyolitic
porphyries with potassic alteration surrounded by
phyllic and propylitic alteration haloes developed in
the country rock; a late carbonatization process
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
overprints the potassic and phyllic alteration. Polyme-
tallic veins with Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag–(Au) mineralization
crop out within or close to the alteration zone.
Related to the Upper Section of the Choiyoi Group
are Mo porphyry type deposits, such as Germán and
Elsiren (Delpino, 1997; Carpio et al., 2001). These
consist of quartz-molybdenite veins with phyllic altera-
tion haloes which are emplaced in rhyolitic domes with
potassic alteration. Fluorite and manganese vein sys-
tems, exclusively hosted by rocks from the Upper
Section, are regionally distributed. Scarce quartz-galena
veins crop out ca. 6 km NW from the Elsiren deposit. An
epithermal low-sulfidation adularia-sericite type deposit
(El Pantanito) is also hosted by rocks of the Upper
Section (Rubinstein et al., 2001; Rubinstein and
Gargiulo, 2005).
Based on stratigraphic constraints, Carpio et al.
(2001) suggested that the main ore deposits in the San
Rafael Massif are almost all genetically related to the
Gondwanan magmatic cycle; in contrast, deposits linked
to Cenozoic magmatism are very scarce. On the other
hand, these authors also suggested that the different
mineralization styles in the Upper and Lower Choiyoi
are linked to the change from a magmatic arc to a rift
tectonic setting during the evolution of the magmatic
cycle.
Lead isotope studies of different polymetallic ore
vein deposits confirmed their genetic link with the
Gondwanan magmatism (Rubinstein et al., 2004). The
calculated model age of 279 Ma is consistent with
previous geochronological data and also with available
stratigraphic evidence. This has also been considered
as the age of the deposits and remobilization of lead.
On the other hand, lead isotope compositions reflect a
mixing process between a depleted mantle-derived
component and a dominant upper crustal component.
Thus, Rubinstein et al. (2004) concluded that the ores
were emplaced during the arc evolution, although
involvement of the upper crust was critical in ore
genesis.
3. The Infiernillo ore deposit
Exploration of the Infiernillo ore deposit began in the
early 1960s and included regional geological mapping,
surface geochemical sampling (analyzing Cu, Mo, Pb
and Zn), inductive polarization studies and a preliminary
drilling program which drilled a total of 1441 m
(Fuschini, 1968). This exploration program finished in
1967 and the deposit was inactive up to the 1980s when
Compañia Minera Placer Development and Anglo
American Corporation Argentina Holdings Limited
279
carried out new surface geochemical sampling; this
information remains confidential. Since the end of the
1980s, no further exploration has been carried out in the
area.
The Infiernillo porphyry Cu–(Mo) deposit is hosted
by pyroclastic rocks from the Lower Section of Choiyoi
Group (Fig. 1). These include highly-welded rhyolitic
tuffs, locally with pseudo-flow-banding structures. They
are composed of plagioclase feldspar, biotite and minor
K-feldspar and amphibole crystaloclasts in a recrystal-
lized matrix, with a felsitic texture where fiamme and
shards are occasionally recognizable.
The pyroclastic rocks are intruded by scarce rhyolitic
and basaltic dikes and a small rhyolitic porphyry with
potassic alteration. The latter is composed of quartz,
plagioclase, K-feldspar and biotite phenocrysts in a
quartz-feldspar groundmass and crops out close to the
quartz neck, within the potassic alteration halo.
The alteration zone has an oval shape, about
3 km × 2 km, and with NNE–SSW strike (Fuschini,
1968). It consists of a small oval N–S oriented central
neck 200 × 60 m in size (Fig. 2C), made up of quartz
crystal aggregates, sometimes with breccia texture, that
contain oxidized pyrite, scarce sericite and appreciable
hematite; locally it shows a boxwork texture. It is
surrounded by a quartz stockwork about 500 × 200 m in
extent which is mainly developed close to the contact
with the quartz neck. The stockwork veinlets (Fig. 2D)
are up to 5 cm wide and have strikes of 40°, 80° and
120°. They have scarce disseminated pyrite and minor
hematite in their borders.
Surrounding the quartz neck is a potassic alteration
zone which consists of pervasive feldspatization,
silicification and minor biotitization. The potassic
alteration is overprinted by moderately intense sericiti-
zation. Fe-oxides and minor Mn-oxides are widespread
in the alteration zone and erratically minor malachite
and scarce azurite are also present.
Outwards from the potassic alteration zone there is
a well-developed phyllic halo (Fig. 2A, E) displaying
intense bleaching. The halo bears pervasive and
veinlet-type silicification (Fig. 2B) and pervasive
sericitization with minor rutile, apatite and scarce
tourmaline and abundant small pyrite crystals dis-
seminated and in veinlets. This halo is extensively
oxidized with abundant Fe-oxides, jarosite, minor Mn-
oxides and scarce malachite. Outside of the phyllic
halo, slight pervasive propylitization comprising an
assemblage of chlorite and minor epidote is erratically
developed.
A late carbonatization process, locally pervasive but
also present in veins, overprints both the potassic and
280 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290

Fig. 2. (A) Regional view of phyllic alteration halo in site 1, showing intense bleaching; (B) field site 1 showing stockwork texture; (C) quartz neck,
site 2; (D) potassic alteration and silicification in stockwork structure, site 3; (E) regional view of phyllic alteration halo in site 4, showing intense
bleaching; (F) La Horqueta Formation, calcite veins in chlorite-bearing shales, site 7.

phyllic alteration. Carbonate veins with minor quartz are The primary ore minerals occur in small dissemi-
also observed outside of the phyllic halo; they are nated crystals and in veinlets within a quartz gangue.
controlled by N–S and E–W structures. The ore assemblage consists mainly of pyrite with
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite, molybdenite and magnetite,
minor galena and sphalerite (occasionally with chalco-
pyrite disease) and scarce pyrrhotite, bornite, marcasite
and tetrahedrite. Scarce secondary chalcocite, covellite
and tenorite are also recognized (Fuschini, 1968).
Surface geochemical analyses reveal approximately
coincident anomalies in Cu (250 to >1000 ppm) and Mo
(25 to >100 ppm) (Fig. 3), which are located in the inner
border of the phyllic halo. Inductive polarization studies
indicate positive anomalies coincident with the altera-
tion halo, thus confirming the presence of disseminated
mineralization downwards. A preliminary drilling
program showed that there are no significant variations
in Cu and Mo contents from surface up to 200 ft depth
(Fuschini, 1968). Significant Ag and Au anomalies, up
to 118 and 0.68 g/t, respectively have also been detected
(Zanettini and Carotti, 1993).
Airborne magnetometry studies have shown a
positive anomaly approximately coincident with the
potassic zone, surrounded by a relatively low magnetic
intensity halo suggesting magnetite destruction, features
typical of the phyllic zone (Johanis, 2003).
Fig. 3. Distribution of Cu and Mo anomalies in the Infiernillo deposit
(Fuschini, 1968).
281
Within or close to the outer border of the phyllic halo,
small polymetallic veins with Pb–Zn–Ag mineralization
crop out which were partially exploited in the beginning
of the 20th Century (Fig. 1; Fuschini, 1968; Carpio et al.,
2001). The veins are up to 1.5 m wide and have strikes
between 20° and 40°N and dips of about 80°. The ore
assemblage is composed mainly of pyrite with abundant
galena, arsenopyrite and minor chalcopyrite, sphalerite
(sometimes with chalcopyrite disease), marcasite and
occasionally scarce electrum in a quartz gangue with
scarce sericite. They are extensively oxidized, with
abundant Fe-oxides and jarosite and scarce malachite.
Close to the contact with the veins the host rocks show
intense and mainly pervasive silicification and intense
pervasive sericitization. Atomic Absorption Spectro-
metry analyses (Instituto de Tecnología Minera, SEGE-
MAR) of vein samples from the Santa Teresa mine
returned values that reach 336 g/t Ag and 18 g/t Au.
4. ASTER
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and
Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a high spatial
multispectral imaging radiometer, which acquires an
average of 550 scenes per day. All of the observed data,
which satisfy a condition of detected cloud coverage
ratio, are processed to generate Level 1A. The Level 1A
is the raw full-resolution data, without applying the
geometric and radiometric coefficients. The Level 1B
and the orthorectified Level 3A are radiometrically
equivalent radiance at the sensor products. Both are
generated by applying these coefficients for radiometric
calibration and geometric re-sampling (Fujisada, 1998).
A series of Level 2B data, products of physical
parameters including reflectance data with nominal
atmospheric corrections are generated from Level 1A on
the basis of user request (Ninomiya, 2004).
4.1. VNIR and SWIR data normalization
The cloud-free ASTER image recorded on Decem-
ber 4, 2002, from the Infiernillo deposit was analyzed in
the two level version, Level 2B (AST_07) surface
reflectance and orthorectified Level 3A radiance at the
sensor. Spectral analyses of both level versions were
compared.
First, the Level 3A VNIR and SWIR radiance at the
sensor data was normalized and converted to relative
reflectance using the Flat Field method (Roberts et al.,
1986). Calibration with detailed radiometric resolution
data is not possible due to the lack of field spectral
information. The digital numerical (DN) data were
282 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
converted to relative reflectance using the assumption
that the recorded DN are linearly related to the surface
reflectance (Yamaguchi and Naito, 2003). We also
consider that the image does not suffer atmospheric
influences because the Infiernillo deposit is located in a
dry, sparse vegetated area.
The input radiance parameters of the ASTER
instrument constrain the radiance values to a reflectance
of 70% to avoid signal saturation over bright targets
(ASTER User's guide, 2001). Accordingly, the Level
3A, VNIR and SWIR DN were converted to relative
reflectance by using a linear regression, band by band,
between the average DN from playa sediments (located
in the west part of the image) as a bright target and the
average DN of dam water as a low reflectance target.
Comparison of this relative reflectance image (Level
3A) and the standard surface reflectance product
(AST_07) from the EROS Data Center suggest
differences. The main differences in EROS Data Center
AST_07 data are a high response in band 9 and band 3,
and a low response in band 8. Other authors (Rowan
and Mars, 2003; Rowan et al., 2003) mention similar
inconsistencies. Thus, the normalized relative reflec-
tance VNIR and SWIR are analyzed in this
contribution.
4.1.1. VNIR + SWIR processing and analysis
The ASTER orthorectified relative reflectance VNIR
and SWIR subsystems were processed and analyzed
using the VNIR 15 m resolution spatially registered to
30 m of SWIR spatial resolution, thus forming a nine-
band image data set VNIR + SWIR in 30 m spatial
resolution with easy integration to a geographical
information system (GIS). It allows many useful band
combinations for qualitative analysis and quick detec-
tion of alteration minerals and also has a high accuracy
geolocation (Fujisada et al., 2001).
An image subset 3D surface view of the area is
shown in SWIR color composition RGB: 468 (Fig. 4),
with the alteration halo in magenta tones; the Infiernillo
ore deposit area is outlined in red. The topography was
extracted from ASTER DEM (Level 4) product.
4.1.2. Band combination and band ratio transformation
analysis
Despite the ASTER bandwidth, the instrument is
useful in predicting mineral suites (Rowan et al., 2003).
ASTER band 1 and band 3 absorption features detect
mainly Fe-oxides; ASTER band 5 and band 6 absorp-
tion detect Al–OH caused by clay minerals, alunite and/
or muscovite/sericite; ASTER band 7 detects Fe–OH
caused mainly by jarosite and/or Fe-muscovite and
ASTER band 8 detects Mg–OH caused mainly by
chlorite, epidote and/or carbonates (CO3).
From the nine band data set many approaches for the
discrimination and mapping of the surface mineral
suites have been undertaken. The color composition
RGB: 461 (Fig. 5) shows the Infiernillo alteration halo
enhanced in two different concentric color zones, with
the external magenta halo due to band 6 (Al–OH)
absorption and the central yellow halo due to band 1
(Fe-oxides) absorption.
Band ratio transformation was also useful for
qualitative detection of alteration minerals. In the RGB:
4/5, 4/6, 4/7 (Fig. 6), the area in white shows a response
of band 5 and band 6 (Al–OH) and band 7 (Fe–OH).
The band ratio RGB: 4/6, 4/7, 3/1 (Fig. 7) shows
good results for lithologic discrimination: in green are
the passive margin deposits; in blue are the volcanics of
the Lower and Upper Sections of Choiyoi Group; and in
yellow and brown yellow is the alteration halo related to
the pyroclastic rocks of the Infiernillo deposit.
4.1.3. Spectral reflectance feature analysis
Features in the visible, near infrared and shortwave
infrared spectra result from different processes. How-
ever, any feature may be categorized as being of either
electronic or vibrational origin (Hunt and Salisbury,
1970).
The electronic processes produce features mainly due
to electronic energy levels of transition metals ions. The
visible and near infrared regions are mainly related to
electronic processes. Minerals containing Fe2+ and Fe3+
are the most frequent features not only because they are
common components in many ore minerals, but also
because they easily substitute other metals in silicon
tetrahedral sites (Hunt and Salisbury, 1970).
The vibrational process features appear in the
spectrum due to the vibration of atoms relative to each
other. The short wave infrared region shows the more
common absorption features. The majority of the
features are related to the bending and stretching of
the bonds in hydroxyl (OH), water (H2O) and carbonate
(CO3), amongst other molecules. The OH forms
combinations with metals such as Al, Fe, and Mg,
which produce characteristic vibrations and absorption
features in this region.
From the normalized relative reflectance VNIR + SWIR
30 m subset data, pixel spectral features were extracted
in order to analyze representative spectral mineral
alteration suites. The selection was made on the assump-
tion that each pixel represents a spectral mixture and the
spectral response of the surface was considered as a linear
mixture of individual components.
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
Fig. 4. 3D surface view of a band combination RGB: 468. The
Infiernillo ore deposit area is outlined in red.
The pixel spectral features selected were compared
with the USGS Digital Spectral Library (Minerals)
(Clark et al., 1993) loaded in Envi ver. 4.1 (Research
Systems, Inc.) software, re-sampled to ASTER spectral
resolution. Fig. 8 shows five representative pixel
spectral profiles extracted from the scene, four of
them from the concentric alteration halos and one
Fig. 5. ASTER color composition RGB: 461 showing the mainly
phyllic halo in magenta and the central quartz neck with hematite in
yellow.
283
Fig. 6. ASTER band ratio 4/5, 4/6, 4/7. White area shows 2.16 μm,
2.2 μm and 2.26 μm absorption.
extracted from the country rock which represents the
area's background spectral feature.
Analysis of the spectral reflectance in Fig. 8 of
each alteration suite shows that the 2.20 μm absorp-
tion feature is dominant in plots (1), (3) and (4), and
that it corresponds to muscovite and/or clay minerals.
Fig. 7. ASTER band ratio 4/6, 4/7, 3/1, the passive margin deposits are
in green; the volcanics of the Choiyoi Group are shown in blue and the
alteration halo related to the Infiernillo deposit is in yellow and brown
yellow. 1–7: location of sampled field sites.
284 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
Fig. 8. Five representative pixel spectral profiles (end-member)
extracted from ASTER image. Each one represents the main mixtures
of minerals detected from the image.
Plot (1) features match with a mix of muscovite
(sericite) and illite. Other clays such as montmorillo-
nite have opposite slope features between 0.55 and
1.65 μm, whereas kaolinite has absorptions at 2.20
and 2.16 μm). Plot (3) shows a mix of sericite/illite
and small amounts of kaolinite, indicated by the small
absorption feature at 2.16 μm. Plot (4) shows a mix of
sericite/illite and jarosite indicated by the 0.8 μm and
2.26 μm absorptions. Plot (2) matches with a mix of
Fe-oxides and jarosite. Plot (5) matches with chlorite,
an abundant mineral in the shales of La Horqueta
Formation. All these spectra profiles were considered
as spectral end-members and used as reference in
spectral mapping.
4.1.4. Spectral mapping method
Quantitative spectral mapping techniques, such as the
spectral angle mapper (SAM) method (Kruse et al., 1993),
operate by comparing image spectra with reference
spectra. It was developed for hyperspectral images, but
can be used in lower resolution systems (Rowan and
Mars, 2003). However some constraints must be
considered due to ASTER spectral resolution limitations.
Fig. 9 shows the SAM's result with a threshold value
of 0.05 radians overlain on band 2. The magenta halo
from Fig. 5, which indicates band 6 (Al–OH) broad
absorption, was reclassified in three mineral mix
spectral subclasses: in green sericite/illite + small kaoli-
nite (plot 3, Fig. 8), in red sericite/illite + jarosite (plot 4,
Fig. 8) and in yellow sericite/illite (plot 1, Fig. 8).
Jarosite + Fe-oxides (plot 2, Fig. 8), in blue, appear
mainly in the inner and outer halo. Chlorite (plot 5, Fig.
8) in cyan is mainly related to the shales of La Horqueta
Formation, but some pixels are also detected in the outer
and inner border of the phyllic halo.
The spatial coherence of mineral mapping shows
reliable results, but field investigations in the study area
were undertaken in order to determine their accuracy.
4.2. Field site check points
In order to check the accuracy of ASTER normalized
relative reflectance data, seven field sites (Fig. 7) were
selected for sampling. Each site study included land
cover analysis, GPS location data and picture and
sample collection. The samples were measured with a
spectral radiometer GER 3700 (648 bands) (0.35 to
2.5 μm).
Sample spectral plots from all sites are shown in
Figs. 10A, 11A, 12A and 13A. The corresponding
figures (Figs. 10B, 11B, 12B and 13B) show the
spectral re-sampling to the ASTER bandpass. The
sample spectral pattern of site 1 (Fig. 10A) shows
features reflecting a mix of muscovite (sericite) (S)
and illite (I) along with a mixture of jarosite (J) and
Fe-oxides (Fe). At this site, the extensively bleached
and oxidized phyllic alteration is marked (Fig. 2A)
and shows a typical stockwork structure (Fig. 2B). At
sites 2 and 3, small amounts of kaolinite (K) were
detected, whilst the contribution of Fe-oxide-derived
features (Fig. 11A) increases at these sites compared
to site 1. Although sites 4, 5 and 6 (Fig. 12A) show
spectral feature patterns similar to site 1, an intense
bleaching is only observed at site 4 (Fig. 2E).
Silicification (Fig. 2C) and potassic alteration (Fig.
2D) are dominant in sites 2 and 3; these minerals'
features are not detected by VNIR and SWIR, and so
the TIR subsystem was used for these sites. The site 7
spectral sample (Fig. 13A), shows the chlorite feature
typical of the shales and calcite veins of the La
Horqueta Formation (Fig. 2F), and represents the
spectral background for the area.
4.3. SWIR reflectance spectrometry analysis
Samples from the phyllic halo (sites 1 and 4) were
analyzed with SWIR Portable Infrared Mineral Analy-
zer (PIMA). Site 1 shows features characteristic of illite
(70%) and jarosite (30%) while site 4 shows spectral
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290 285

Fig. 9. Result of mapping methods: ASTER SAM classification, overlain on band 2. End-member scene location (x, y). The different colors represent
different mixtures of alteration minerals.

Fig. 14. Results of Qi index (silicification) in red and inverse of Qi for FK (potassic feldspar), potassic alteration, in green.
286 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290

Fig. 10. (A) GER spectra pattern of site 1; (B) spectra re-sampling to ASTER bandpass. I: illite; S: sericite; J: jarosite; Fe: Fe-oxides.

features indicative of illite (80%), kaolinite (10%) and
jarosite (10%). For both samples, the illite spectral
reference corresponds to a low temperature, moderate to
high crystallinity illite type. The kaolinite spectral
feature shows a deeper 1.9 μm absorption, due to high
amounts of water molecules, suggesting an origin by
weathering (Di Tommaso et al., 2005).
5. ASTER–TIR data analysis
5.1. Band ratio transformation analysis
Silica, silicate and carbonate minerals show a strong
fundamental spectral feature corresponding to the Si–
O and C–O bonds in the thermal atmospheric window
region (8–12 μm). The quartz spectrum has absorption
in bands 10 and 12 and a small emissivity peak in
band 11. The Quartz Index Qi (Ninomiya, 2003) is
given as

The ASTER–TIR spectral emissivity data (AST_05) Qi ¼ ðb11  b11Þ=ðb10  b12Þ:

analyzed in this contribution was produced from the
Level 1B at the EROS Data Center using the
Temperature Emissivity Separation (TES) algorithm
developed by Gillespie et al. (1998). The emissivity data
was re-sampled and co-registered to the VNIR + SWIR
30 m spatial resolution.
ASTER–TIR bandpasses have been selected for
detecting silicates, the most abundant rock-forming
minerals on earth. Ninomiya (2002) proposed several
mineralogical ASTER indices for the detection of
mineral and chemical compositions of silica, carbonates
and silicate rocks.
Qi is expected to be high for quartz and low for
K-feldspars (inverse Qi) (Ninomiya et al., 2005).
The outcrops at Infiernillo with silicification and
potassic alteration are small in size and usually are close
to TIR pixel resolution. In the laboratory the Qi
response from the area was considered mainly as
noise, but in the field, good correlations were found at
sites 1, 2 and 3 while checking the index results. Site 1
is within the phyllic halo and has heavy silicification in
veins and pervasive while site 2 is within the quartz
neck (Fig. 2C), which is surrounded by potassic

Fig. 11. (A) GER spectra pattern of sites 2 and 3; (B) spectra re-sampling to ASTER bandpass. I: illite; S: sericite; J: jarosite; Fe: Fe-oxides.
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290 287

Fig. 12. (A) GER spectra pattern of sites 4, 5 and 6; (B) spectra re-sampling to ASTER bandpass. I: illite; S: sericite; J: jarosite; Fe: Fe-oxides.

alteration with a stockwork structure (Fig. 2D) corre-
sponding to site 3.
Using a threshold value of Qi pixels of 1.032 and for
potassic alteration (inverse Qi) of 1.007, and overlaying
them on Fig. 5 (RGB: 461), we obtained the Qi and
inverse Qi index results shown in Fig. 14, on which
silica appears in red and potassic alteration in green.
5.2. Spectral emittance feature analysis
Spectral feature analysis from emissivity image
data is shown in Fig. 15A. Note the difference at
9.07 μm absorption between the Qi pixels from site 2
and the weaker 9.07 μm absorption of K-feldspar from
site 3.
Samples from both sites were measured with a
Micro-FTIR spectrometer using a gold plate as
reference. Laboratory spectral emissivity features are
shown in Fig. 15B. Sample 170604 corresponds to site
2 and 170605 to site 3; both spectra show the stretching
vibrations of the Si–O bonds in the thermal infrared
region, the so-called reststrahlen bands, strong in
quartz sample with a doublet emissivity absorption at
8.29 and 9.07 μm, and a small peak at 8.63 μm. In K-
feldspar the doublet feature is less clear. The re-sample
to ASTER–TIR band resolution (Fig. 15C) shows
almost the same results as the ASTER pixel spectral
plot (Fig. 15A).
6. Discussion
ASTER radiometric capability has been tested by
many authors applying different processing methods
(Yamaguchi and Naito, 2003; Rowan et al., 2003;
Ninomiya, 2004) in the Cuprita area (Nevada USA), a
well known mineralized district.
The widely used LANDSAT Thematic Mapper
(TM), with 4 VNIR and 2 SWIR bands is useful for
discriminating Fe-oxides in the VNIR and bulk OH plus
CO3-bearing minerals in the SWIR. Although it has
similar spatial resolution to ASTER, using conventional
processing methods (enhanced bands combination and
band ratio transformation), the six SWIR bands
improved the capability of ASTER to obtain remotely

Fig. 13. (A) GER spectra pattern of site 7; (B) spectra re-sampling to ASTER bandpass. Chl: chlorite; Fe: Fe-oxides.
288 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
Fig. 15. (A) Pixel spectral plot extracted from the emissivity image;
(B) Micro-FTIR sample spectrum; (C) re-sampled spectrum to ASTER
bandpass.
derived lithologic maps and discriminate certain miner-
als and mineral groups (Rowan et al., 2003). Another
important aspect of ASTER data is the availability of the
thermal bands that allow discrimination of silica,
potassic feldspar, CO3, and igneous rocks of different
compositions using spectral emittance and band ratio
analysis (Ninomiya et al., 2005). On the other hand,
accurate but expensive hyperspectral imagery data,
which can discriminate mineral composition, distribu-
tion and abundance, are suitable for further detailed
analysis.
In this contribution the analysis of ASTER relative
reflectance and emissivity spectra shows that there is a
significant compositional information to be gained
from relative simple image processing techniques. It
determined the distribution of the phyllic (illite/sericite,
kaolinite, jarosite and Fe-oxides), silicic and potassic
(K-feldspar) alteration and thus allowed the construc-
tion of a preliminary alteration map. The good
correlation of the image processing results with ground
spectrometric measures (GER 3700 and PIMA) and
petrographic analysis proved the accuracy of this
method. Previous work carried out in epithermal (Di
Tommaso et al., 2002; Di Tommaso, 2004) and
porphyry copper deposits (Marquetti et al., 2005)
from Argentina also showed good preliminary results,
even if geological constraints must be considered due
to the scene dependences of the method. In this way,
ASTER images could be applied in areas with a
known geological setting, not only to look for new
exploration targets but also to establish its alteration
suites and thus confidently build a preliminary
alteration map.
7. Conclusions
ASTER data evaluation shows good correlation with
field data for the Infiernillo ore deposit. VNIR + SWIR
relative reflectance spectral analysis was accurate and
helpful for detecting and mapping mineral alteration
suites. TIR emissivity data band indices and spectral
analysis were also useful tools for silica and K-feldspar
mineral mapping.
ASTER images thus prove to be a powerful tool in
the initial steps of ore deposit exploration because they
provide high accuracy data that can be used as a basis for
mapping the surface distribution of certain minerals. In
this way they allow the determination of hydrothermal
alteration zones, reducing the time and cost required for
field evaluation.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Japan International Cooperation
Agency JICA and ERSDAC, (Japan) for ASTER data
and the Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGE-
MAR) for supporting the field work. We also thank Dr.
Kazuya Okada for suggestions which improved this
contribution and Dr. Richard Bevins for the early review
of the manuscript. We also thank Dr. Jeremy Richards,
Dr. Nigel Cook, Dr. Kamen Bogdanov and an
anonymous reviewer who were especially helpful in
clarifying certain points in the manuscript.
 I. Di Tommaso, N. Rubinstein / Ore Geology Reviews 32 (2007) 275–290
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