ASTER spectral analysis for alteration minerals associated with gold mineral-
ization

Reda Amer, Ahmed Al Mezayen, Mohamed Hasanein

PII: S0169-1368(15)30267-5
DOI: doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.12.008
Reference: OREGEO 1702

To appear in: Ore Geology Reviews

Received date: 11 August 2015

Revised date: 25 October 2015
Accepted date: 11 December 2015

Please cite this article as: Amer, Reda, Al Mezayen, Ahmed, Hasanein, Mohamed,
ASTER spectral analysis for alteration minerals associated with gold mineralization,
Ore Geology Reviews (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.12.008

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 ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT

ASTER Spectral Analysis for Alteration Minerals Associated with Gold Mineralization

Reda Amer1, Ahmed Al Mezayen2, Mohamed Hasanein3

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Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118

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2
Geology Department, Al- Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
3
Egyptian Geological Survey, Cairo, Egypt

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Abstract

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This study presents classifications of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and

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Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery based on spectral analysis of alteration minerals

associated with gold mineralization in Abo Marawat area which is located in the Central Eastern
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Desert of Egypt. Spectral analysis of continuum removed reference spectra of alteration minerals

alunite, kaolinite, sericite, and calcite from USGS and JPL spectral libraries show shifts in
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position, shape, and strength most probably related to changes in sample purity and particle size
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of analyzed samples. Spectral Information Divergence (SID) classification method proved

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successful for mapping sericite, calcite, and clay minerals. Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM)
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classification identified only sericite and calcite alteration minerals. The identified alteration
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zones are coincidence with the field sampling and geological map of the study area. The

microscopic examination of samples collected from the quartz veins and hydrothermally altered

wall-rocks from near surface and subsurface at Abu Marawat gold mine show sericitization,

argillaceous, and carbonatization alteration zones. Gold occur as very fine inclusions in pyrite,

chalcopyrite, and sphalerite and also found filling the fractures between chalcopyrite grains. This

study concludes that ASTER image classifications using reference spectra is a stable and

reproducible technique for mapping gold related hydrothermal alteration zones in areas with no

dominant vegetation cover.

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1. Introduction

Remote sensing techniques have been widely and successfully used for geological

mapping and mineral exploration for decades (e.g. Rowan et al., 1977, Goetz et al., 1985, Sultan

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et al., 1986; Boardman and Kruse, 1994, Rowan and Mars, 2003; Perry, 2004; Zhang et al.,

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2007; Amer et al; 2010; Amer et al., 2012). Gold mineralization are commonly found in quartz

veins and associated with hydrothermally alteration zones. Although gold cannot be detected

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directly by any remote sensing method, the hydrothermal alteration zone minerals such as

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sericite, clay minerals, calcite, and iron oxides could be identified and used as indicators for gold

occurrences. Band ratios and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of Landsat imagery has been
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used for mineral exploration by mapping the associated alteration zone mineral assemblages

(Sabins, 1999; Sabine, 1997). Rocks and minerals have higher reflection in shortwave infrared
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(SWIR) than visible light wavelength regions. ASTER has six SWIR bands that can give more

information and accurate results for lithological mapping and mineral exploration. Different
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methods have been proposed and published by many authors about using ASTER data for
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identifying the hydrothermal alteration zones associated with mineral deposits. Band ratios,
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PCA, Minimum Noise Fraction, Spectral Angle Mapper, Matched Filtering, Mixture Tuned

Matched Filtering, Linear Spectral Unmixing, and Constrained Energy Minimization of ASTER

images were successfully used for mapping alteration minerals associated with porphyry copper

and gold mineralization (e.g. Ninomiya, 2003; Rowan et al. 2003; Crosta et al. 2003; Mars and

Rowan, 2006; Kratt et al. 2010; Pour et al. 2011; Pour and Hashim, 2012). Zhang et al. (2007)

subpixel unmixing algorithm, and the constrained energy minimization technique to delineate

alteration zones associated with gold mineralization in Chcolate area, California. Gabr et al.

(2010) used ASTER imagery and applied (4/8, 4/2, and 8/9 in RGB), PCA, constrained energy

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minimization, and spectral unmixing method for mapping gold-related alteration zone of Abu-

Marawat area, in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Their results indicated that these methods were

successful and promising for identifying alteration zones associated with gold mineralization.

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Amer et al., 2012a used the reference spectra from the USGS and ASTER imagery to identify the

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alteration minerals associated with gold mineralization in the Um Rus in the Eastern Desert of

Egypt. The results indicated that the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information

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Divergence (SID) supervised classification methods are capable of mapping the alteration zones.

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Herein, we are integrating ASTER imagery, petrography, and ore mineralogy methods to

detect the gold mineralized zone in Abu Marwat area in the Eastern Desert of Egypt (Fig. 1). The
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USGS and JPL reference spectra, Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), and Spectral Information

Divergence (SID) supervised classification methods were used to identify the gold related
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alteration minerals including alunite, kaolinite, sericite, and calcite. The classification results

were validated and evaluated using field mapping, sampling, and microscopic studies.
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Insert Figure 1
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2. Study Area
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Abu Marwat area is located in the Eastern Desert of Egypt and covered by ophiolitic

serpentinite and related talc-carbonates and pillow metabasalts extruded by the island arc

metavolcanics with banded iron ore, quartz diorite, and molass sediments (Fig. 2). Relics of

serpentinite are found in one site in the study area enclosed within the meta-andesites and highly

sheared in N-S direction and dip 70°W. Talc-carbonates occur as pockets and sheet-like bodies at

the contact of meta-andesites and quartz diorites. The metabsalts are found as thin slices along

the NW-SE shear zone in association with meta-andesites and talc-carbonates. They also

registered as elongated bodies in the NE-SW direction at the contacts of intermediate and acidic

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metavolcanics. The metavolcanis cover large areas and represent the main rock unit in the study

area and consists of meta-andesites, metadacite, and metarhyolites and their tuffs intercalated

with each other. The metavolcanic rocks are tectonically repeated and interrupted through

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several sub-parallel NW-SE strike-slip faults (Zoheir and Akawy, 2010). The banded iron

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formations (BIF) are about 60 m thick bands alternating with the volcaniclastics forming black

high hills of the Abu Marawat Mountain. These are part of the Algoma-type BIF and contains

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gold mineralization up to 2.15 ppm, either enclosed in the flakey hematite crystals or as fine

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intrusions in the gangue constituents of the magnetite mesoband (Botros, 2004). The quartz-

diorites crop out as two small elongated masses intruding the meta-andesites and talc-carbonates
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with clear sharp contacts trending NW-SE. They are highly foliated and fractured in NW-SE and

NE-SW trends. The molasses-type sediments composed of unmetamorphosed poorly sorted

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conglomerates of various size and composition, consisting of greywackes, and siltstone. They

form an elongated mass trending to the N-S direction and unconformably overlying the meta-
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andesites. They are foliated in NW-SE and fractured in NE-SW directions. The rock units are
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dissected by numerous felsic and doleritic dykes and quartz veins. The quartz veins are white,
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smokey, and some of them are auriferous staining by iron oxide. The quartz veins have four

trends NW-SE, NE-SW, E-W, and ENE-WSW dipping to the west or east with angle varying

from 60° to 80°.

Field observations revealed that the study area affected by ductile and brittle

deformations including folds, shear zones and different types of faults and joints (Fig. 2). Field

relationships showed that folding are the oldest structural features in the study area because it is

displaced by faults and shear zones. The metavolcanics and volcaniclastics display a synclinal

fold its axis is coincide with the NNE-SSW shear zone and plunging to the north direction. The

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right limb covers most of the study area (eastern and central parts) and has different dips S65°W,

S55°W, and S45°W. The left limb covers small area in the western part of the study area and

dips S65°E. The molass sediments occupy the trough of the synclinal fold. The banded iron

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formation (BIF) has tight recumbent fold structure with N-S axes and plunging to the north

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direction.

Insert Figure 2

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3. Gold Occurrence

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Gold mineralization are found in the quartz veins and associated with wall rock

alterations. They are concentrated in the elongated north trending highly sheared block of the
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acidic metavolcanics embedded in the meta-andesites (Fig. 3). Field observations and

relationships indicated that there are three generations of quartz veins striking N-S, ESE-WNW
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and NW-SE. The N-S trending quartz veins are the oldest and the NW-SE one are the youngest.

The main stock has been recognized within the thin (10-100 cm) N-S quartz veins that dip 70°W.
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They composed of milky quartz and associated with wall rock alterations including silicification,
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carbonatization, sericitization, argillaceous, and ferrugination. The ESE-WNW trending quartz

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veins are thick (1-5 m) and made up of massive or cavernous milky quartz. The NW-SE trending

quartz veins are thin (1-20 cm), massive, and milky. The last two quartz veins trending ESE-

WNW and NW-SE are barren.

Insert Figure 3

4. Materials

4.1. ASTER data

Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) imagery

was used to identify wall-rock alteration zones in Abu Marawat area. ASTER sensors collect

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data in a wide range of spectral regions through the visible and near infrared (VNIR), short wave

infrared (SWIR), and thermal infrared (TIR) (Abrams and Hook, 2001). ASTER has 14 spectral

bands including 3 VNIR between (0.52- 0.86 µm); 6 SWIR between (1.6 and 2.43 µm); and 5

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TIR between (8.125-11.65 µm). The spatial resolution of ASTER data varies according to the

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spectral region VNIR, SWIR, and TIR, they have 15, 30, and 90 m pixel size, respectively.

ASTER level-1B data product was obtained from the Land Processes Distributed Active Archive

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Center at NASA. The ASTER level-1B data are registered radiance at the sensor product

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contains radiometrically calibrated and geometrically co-registered data for the original ASTER

level-1A data.
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4.2. Reference spectra

Reference spectra of alteration minerals including alunite, kaolinite, sericite (fine grained
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variety of muscovite), and calcite, were obtained from the USGS and JPL spectral libraries

(Clark et al. 2007; Grove et al. 1992). The JPL spectral library provides reflectance spectra of
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160 mineral, most of them are presented at three different grain sizes to demonstrate the effect of
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particle size on reflectance spectra (Grove et al. 1992). The USGS mineral spectral library
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contains reference spectra for about 205 minerals that represent different localities around the

world but most of them are presented in one particle size (Clark et al. 2007). Table (1) shows the

ancillary information of the minerals samples of the USGS and JPL including sample ID,

chemical formula, class, collection origin, particle size, sample purity using XRD, spectrometer

and wavelength range.

Insert Table 1

4.3. Field work

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Field work encompassed sampling of the quartz veins, alteration zones, and fresh host

rocks. Field mapping were conducted to verify the contacts between the lithological units and

structural patterns. The structural investigation focused on fracture zones and their characteristics

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including strike, dip, length, quartz veins (if any) and relationships with other fault trends. Ore

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samples were collected from the quartz veins, hydrothermally altered wall-rocks and fresh host

rocks from near surface and subsurface at Abu Marawat gold mine by Minex Exploration

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Company and the Egyptian Geological Survey. Thirty six samples were collected from five

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drilled holes penetrating the alteration zones.

5. Methods
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5.1. ASTER image Processing

An ASTER level-1B image covering the study area was acquired on March 26, 2006 and
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processed using ENVI 5.0 software from Exelis Visual Information Solutions and Arc GIS 10.2

from Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI). The ASTER imagery was
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atmospherically corrected for retrieving spectral reflectance using ENVI automated module
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Quick Atmospheric Correction (QUAC). Gram-Schmidt Pan-Sharpening method was used to

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fuse the ASTER VNIR images (15 m pixel size) with the six band SWIR image (30-m pixel size)

to produce a 15-m pixel size SWIR ASTER image (Laben, 2000). Gram-Schmidt Pan-

Sharpening method is more accurate than the Principal Component (PC) and Hue, Saturation and

Value (HSV) methods because it uses the spectral response function of a given sensor to estimate

what the panchromatic data look like. Comparison of a Z Profile of the original image with that

of the Gram-Schmidt pan-Sharpened image revealed that there is no difference in spectral

information. Gram-Schmidt Pan-Sharpening method is highly recommended for most

applications (Laben, 2000).

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Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) algorithms

were used to identify the alteration zones using the USGS and JPL minerals reference spectra.

SAM measures the spectral similarity between the pixel and reference spectra by calculating the

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angle between the two spectra, treating them as vectors in n-dimensional space, the smaller the

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angle the more likely the spectrums are similar (Kruse et al. 1993). SID measures the divergence

between pixel and reference spectra, the smaller the divergence the more likely the pixels and

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reference spectrum are similar (Chang, 2000; Du, 2004). SAM is a deterministic method that

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looks for an exact pixel match, whereas SID is a probabilistic method that allows for variations

in pixel measurements.
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5.2.Petrography and Geochemistry

Thirty six polished thin sections of quartz veins and associated alteration zones within
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meta-andesites and metarhyolites were studied microscopically and using Scanning Electron

Microscope (SEM). Cambridge MK-5 Electron Microscope at 25 kilovolts was employed to

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study the homogeneity of the sulphides and the heterogeneity of telluride phases. The samples
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were spectrographically analyzed after chemical treatment with aqua regia gold enrichment and
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associated elements in the Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA)

laboratories. Twenty samples were analyzed for Au and Ag content using Flame Atomic

Absorption Spectroscopy (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy

(GFAAS). FAAS is useful only in the mg/l range, whereas GFAAS is highly sensitive with

detection limits of 0.3-5.0 ng/g (Olalla and Aller, 1991).

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6. Results and Discussion

6.1. Spectral analysis

The USGS and JPL reference spectra of alteration minerals alunite, kaolinite, sericite

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(fine grained variety of muscovite), and calcite were analyzed using continuum and continuum

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removal process to calculate the position of absorption wavelength bands. Continuum-removal

normalizes the reflectance spectra from a common baseline. Results show that they have several

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absorption features around 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4 µm (Table 2; Figs. 4,

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5, and 6). These features are vibrational absorption bands that occur in the mid- and far-infrared

for anion groups of OH and CO3 and may result from result from overtone and combinations of
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the fundamental modes of molecules such as water trapped in the crystal structure (Hunt, 1977;

Kruse and Hauff, 1993)”. The absorption features of USGS spectra have different position,
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shape, and strength than the JPL spectra which is most probably related to changes in analyzed

sample purity, particle size, and possible solid solution compositional chemistry variations.
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Ancillary information of alteration minerals reference spectra is shown in Table (1). The main
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differences between USGS and JPL alteration minerals spectra are sample origin and particle
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size. The 1.9 µm feature is obscured by atmospheric (water) absorption (Curran et al. 2001). The

absorption features around 1.4 µm and 2.2 µm are hydroxyl absorption bands such as alunite,

kaolinite, and sericite (Hunt et al. 1973; Clark et al., 1990). The results of USGS alunite

spectrum show three strongest bands at 1.4, 2.2, and 2.5 µm, and two weak bands at 1.75 and

2.32 µm. The JPL alunite spectrum has two strongest 1.4 and 2.16 µm, and three weak bands at

1.76, 2.31, and 2.42 (Figs 5b & 6b). The USGS alunite is sodium-rich and the JPL alunite is

potassium-rich which is the main reason of bands shifting. The USGS kaolinite spectrum shows

two strong doublet at 1.4 and 2.2 µm, and two weak bands at 1.91 and 2.38 µm. The JPL

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spectrum two strong doublet at 1.4 and 2.2 µm, and three weak bands at 1.82, 1.91 and a doublet

at 2.37 µm. Carbonates have two strongest bands at 2.30-2.35 µm and 2.50-2.55 µm, and three

weaker bands occur near 1.85-187 µm, 1.97-2.00 µm, and 2.12-2.16 µm (Hunt and Salisbury,

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1971; Gaffey, 1986, Gaffey et al., 1993). The results show that the USGS and JPL calcite has

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strong absorption at 2.33 µm (Figs. 5c & 6c). The USGS calcite spectrum also has weak bands at

1.87 µm and 1.97 µm, whereas the JPL spectrum shows a weak band at 1.87 µm. The USGS and

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JPL spectra of sericite are similar and show two strong bands at 1.4 and 2.2 µm, and two weak

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bands at 1.9 and 2.43 µm (Figs. 5d & 6d).

Insert Table 2
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Insert Figure 4

Insert Figure 5
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Insert Figure 6
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6.2. ASTER image classifications

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Gabr et al. (2010) used band ratios (4/8, 4/2, and 8/9 in RGB), PCA, constrained energy
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minimization, and spectral unmixing method of ASTER imagery for mapping gold-related

alteration zone of Abu-Marawat area. Their results indicated that these methods were successful

and promising for identifying alteration zones associated with gold mineralization. Herein, we

used the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) supervised

classifications to identify gold related alteration minerals (alunite, kaolinite, sericite, and calcite)

on the ASTER imagery by comparing the pixels spectra with the USGS and JPL reference

spectra. The default single value threshold (0.05 rad) was set as the maximum divergence

threshold of SID classification. SID classification using the USGS spectrum identified sericite,

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kaolinite and calcite whereas the JPL spectrum identified sericite, alunite and calcite in Abo

Marwat gold mining area (Figs. 7 and 8). Spectral analysis indicated that the USGS and JPL

spectra of alunite are shifted and not identical (Figs 5b & 6b). SID results show that the JPL

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reference spectrum of alunite has the smallest divergence than the USGS alunite spectrum, which

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resulted to misclassification of alunite in figure 7. There are shifting of the kaolinite spectra as

shown in figures 5b and 6b, which resulted to larger divergence between the JPL spectra and

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image spectra and misclassification of kaolinite in figure 8. Results of SAM classification using

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USGS reference spectra shows only sericite alterations in the mining area (Fig. 9). The

misclassified and unclassified pixels of clay minerals and calcite could be due to the larger angle
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and mismatches between the USGS reference spectra and spectra of image pixels. Using the JPL

spectra SAM classification identified sericite and calcite whereas clay minerals kaolinite and
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alunite are misclassified due to the larger angle and mismatches between the JPL reference

spectra and image spectra (Fig. 10).

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Spectral analysis indicated that the USGS and JPL reference spectra of sericite are
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identical and having similar absorption bands while the reference spectra of calcite and clay
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minerals are shifted and not identical. The SID classification successfully identified sericite,

calcite, and clay minerals whereas SAM classification identified only sericite and calcite

alteration minerals. The misclassified and unclassified pixels are due to larger angle and

divergence which resulted to mismatches between reference spectra and spectra of image pixels.

Results demonstrated that alteration minerals in the study area were better identified using the

probabilistic SID classification method that allows for variations in pixel measurements than the

deterministic SAM method. The identified alteration zones are coincidence with the field

sampling and geological map of the study area (Figs. 11).

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Insert Figure 7

Insert Figure 8

Insert Figure 9

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Insert Figure 10

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Insert Figure 11

6.3.Petrography

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The gold mineralized quartz veins are associated with wall-rock hydrothermal alteration

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zones. Wall rock alterations are controlled by type of host rock, nature of the mineralizing fluid

and style of deformation of host rocks (Rose and Burt, 1979). In the study area, the hydrothermal
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alteration minerals display distinct spatial zonation around the quartz veins in meta-andesites,

metadacites, and metarhyolites. Petrographically, they consist of quartz, sericite, clay minerals,
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calcite, pyrite, and iron oxides. However, these minerals are not recorded in each examined

samples and they occur differentially in the studied samples (Fig. 12). Sericite (fine-grained
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variety of muscovite) occurs either as euhedral to subhedral disoriented crystals commonly

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developed as a result of hydration of plagioclase. Calcite occurs as anhedral irregular elongated

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crystals filling fractures and cavities. Clay minerals contain many fine, highly birefringent shreds

(presumably kaolinite or alunite). They are mostly produced as intracrystal voids filled by

hydrothermal solutions. White milky quartz occur as secondary mineral and is found filling

amygdals due to silicification. Identification of clay minerals, calcite, and sericite from

petrographic analyses of the collected hand specimens from the alteration zones proved that the

SID classification of ASTER imagery using JPL reference spectra was successful in identifying

the alteration minerals associated with gold mineralization.

Insert Figure 12

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6.4. Ore mineralogy

Microscopic analysis of the ore samples identified pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite,

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sphalerite, galena, iron oxides, quartz, sericite, carbonates, silver (Ag), and gold (Au) minerals.

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Pyrite is the most abundant and occurs as subhedral and euhedral grains, included in quartz and

shares the boundaries with chalcopyrite (Fig. 13-a). Pyrrhotite mostly occurs as intergrown

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crystals with sphalerite and chalcopyrite; it often envelops Ag and Au. Chalcopyrite occurs as

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intergrown crystals within pyrite, sphalerite, and galena (Fig. 13-b). Galena shares boundaries

with chalcopyrite and pyrite; occasionally, it replaces pyrite forming wedge-like shape. Iron
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oxides (magnetite, hematite, and goethite) are found in oxidizing zones (Fig. 13-c). Quartz is the

most common gangue mineral (Fig. 13-d).

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Carbonates are randomly distributed and closely associated with quartz. Ag and Au occur

as very fine inclusions in pyrite, chalcopyrite, and sphalerite (Fig. 14 a, b, & c). They also found
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filling the fractures between chalcopyrite grains (Fig. 14 d). The Flame Atomic Absorption
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Spectroscopy (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS) were
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used to determine the Ag and Au content in the ore samples (Table 3). The highest concentration

Ag was found in samples number 2, 3, and 15 with 74.8, 15.7, and 44.2 ppm, respectively; while

in the other samples the Ag concentration is lower than 5 ppm. The highest Au content was

found in samples 3 (2.14 ppm) and 15 (1.9 ppm). In the other eighteen samples Au ranges

between (0.1 to 0.6 ppm). The presence of gold and silver in the collected hand specimens from

the alteration zones indicate that the ASTER image processing techniques reviewed in the

present paper are promising for identifying alteration minerals associated with gold

mineralization.

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Insert Figure 13

Insert Figure 14

Insert Table 3

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7. Conclusion

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This study used multispectral data of the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and

Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data to map alteration zones related to gold mineralization in

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the Abo Marwat area, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Gold mineralization occurs mainly in the

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N-S quartz veins and related alteration zones. Microscopic examination of thin sections shows

that the alteration minerals consist essentially of sericite, clay minerals, quartz, carbonate, and
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pyrite. The alteration zones of the study area were mapped successfully from the ASTER

imagery using the USGS and JPL reference spectra of alteration minerals based on supervised
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classification methods including the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information

Divergence (SID). The absorption features of USGS spectra have different position, shape, and
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strength than the JPL spectra which is most probably related to changes in sample purity and
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particle size. The SID classification successfully identified sericite, calcite, and clay minerals
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whereas SAM classification identified only sericite and calcite alteration minerals. Field

sampling and mapping indicated that the alteration minerals in the study area were better

identified using the probabilistic SID classification method that allows for variations in pixel

measurements than the deterministic SAM method. For future work, this study suggests that

collecting field reflectance spectra of the alteration zones and laboratory spectral measurements

of field samples. The collected spectra can be used for ASTER image classification and compare

the results with the reference spectra of the USGS and JPL spectral libraries.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank the Egyptian Geological Survey and Minex Exploration

Company for providing borehole samples. Many thanks for The Land Processes Distributed

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Active Archive Center (LP DAAC) at NASA for providing ASTER data. The authors are also

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grateful for the precious advices and reviews of the anonymous reviewers.

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Fig. 1. Location map of Abu Marawat area. (a) Landsat ETM+ (7, 4, 2) color mosaic image of
Egypt (Geology.com, 2008). (b) ASTER (6, 4, 8) in in red, green, and blue, false color image of
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Abu Marawat area. The yellow box is the gold mine area.

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Fig. 2. Geologic map of Abu Marawat (modified from Gabr et al. 2010). The red box is the gold
mine area.

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Fig. 3. Field photograph showing the old gold mining work along the N30W shear zone
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occurring in meta-rhyolite.
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Fig. 4. Plot showing USGS and JPL spectra of alteration minerals alunite, kaolinite, calcite, and
sericite.

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a. Alunite b. Kaolinite
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c. Calcite d. Sericite
Fig. 5. Plot showing USGS continuum removed spectra of alteration minerals.

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a. Alunite b. Kaolinite
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c. Calcite d. Sericite
Fig. 6. Plot showing JPL continuum removed spectra of alteration minerals.

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Fig. 7. Spectral Information Divergence (SID) classification using USGS spectra shows that sericite,
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calcite, and kaolinite are identified while the alunite is misclassified.

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Fig. 8. Spectral Information Divergence (SID) classification using JPL spectra shows that sericite,
calcite, and alunite are identified while the kaolinite is misclassified.

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Fig. 9. Spectral Angel Mapper (SAM) classification using USGS spectra shows that only sericite is
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identified while the calcite, kaolinite, and alunite are misclassified.

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Fig. 10. Spectral Angel Mapper (SAM) classification using JPL spectra shows that sericite and calcite are
identified while the kaolinite and alunite are misclassified.

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Fig. 11. Location of drilled holes penetration the alteration zones in the acidic metavolcanics
their tuffs overlying the Spectral Information Divergence (SID) classification using JPL spectra.
Please refer to geologic map (figure 2) for the location of rock units.

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Fig. 12. Photomicrographs (C.N. X 63): a) Plagioclase altered to sericite (Ser) and
corroded phenocrysts of quartz (Qz) surrounded by clay minerals. b) Secondary quartz
filling the amygdals and clay minerals. c) Euhedral pyrite (Py) crystals and quartz
embedded in clay minerals. d) White milky quartz phenocrysts surrounded by quartz
and orthoclase embedded in sericite, patches of calcite, and iron oxides. e) Calcite
veinlet and quartz phynocrysts with orthoclase altered to serecite and clay minerals. f)
Plagioclase altered to sericite and epidote (Ep) with quartz and calcite.

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Fig. 13. a) Photomicrograph (reflected light 200 X) of: a) euhedral pyrite; b) pyrite (Py) sharing

boundaries with chalcopyrite (Cp); c) pyrite rimmed by magnetite (Mg); d) quartz (Qz) included

in pyrite.

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Fig. 14. Scanning Electronic Microscope photomicrograph of: a) gold (Au) filling fracture

between pyrite and chalcopyrite; b) gold diffused in chalcopyrite; c) gold replacing pyrite

and both embedded in sphalerite; d) gold filling fractures in chalcopyrite.

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Table 1. USGS and JPL reference spectra of alteration minerals alunite, kaolinite, calcite, and

sericite (fine grained variety of muscovite).

Reference

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USGS JPL
Spectra
Name Alunite Calcite Kaolinit Musco Alunite Calcite Kaolini Muscov

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e vite te ite

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SUSTDA HS48 KL502 GDS11 SO-4A C03D PS-01A Ps-16A
Sample ID
-20 9 (fine) (coarse) (fine) (fine)
NaAl3(S CaCO3 Al2Si2 KAl2Si KAl3(S CaCO3 Al2Si2 KAl2Si3

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Formula O4)2(OH O5(OH) 3O10(O O4)2(OH O5(OH O10(OH,
)6 4 H)2 )6 )4 F)2
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Sulfate Carbona Phyllosi Phyllos Sulfate Carbonat Phyllos Phyllosi
Class
te licate ilicate e ilicate licate
Ron Kansas Colorad Califor Utah England Georgi Connect
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Origin
Lyon o nia a icut
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19 µm 210 µm 15 µm NA 0-45um 125- 0-45um 45-

Particle Size
500um 125um
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NA calcite NA NA Alunite Calcite Kaolini Muscov

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XRD Analysis te ite,

Feldspar
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Spectrometer Beckman UV5270 spectrometer Beckman UV5240 Spectrophotometer

Wavelength
0.2 – 3.0 μm 0.4 – 2.5 μm
range

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Table 2. Spectral wavelength absorption bands of USGS and JPL reference spectra of alteration

minerals alunite, kaolinite, calcite, and sericite (fine grained variety of muscovite).

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Reference

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USGS JPL
Spectra

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Mineral Alunite Kaol Calcite Sericite Alunite Kaol Calcite Sericite

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1.5 1.4 1.87 1.4 1.47 1.4 1.41 1.4
Absorption
1.76 1.9 2.0 1.9 1.76 1.82 1.92 1.9
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wavelength
2.16 2.2 2.16 2.2 2.16 1.92 2.15 2.2
(µm)
2.52 2.38 2.33 2.43 2.31 2.2 2.33 2.43
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Table 3. The content of Au and Ag content in ore samples using Flame Atomic Absorption
Spectroscopy (FAAS) and Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (GFAAS).

Sample Weight

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Sample No. Sample ID Depth (m) Ag (ppm) Au (ppm)
(g)
1 AMD-5 7 3.0209 <5 0.248

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2 AMD-5 15 3.2065 74.8 0.468

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3 AMD-5 40 3.0249 15.7 2.149
4 AMD-5 48 3.0300 <5 0.666

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5 AMD-8 12.5 3.1042 <5 0.483
6 AMD-8 28.2 MA 3.1313 <5 0.399
7 AMD-8 68 3.0524 <5 0.328
8 AMD-8 97 3.1561 <5 0.288
9 AMD-10 27.3 3.0642 <5 0.326
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10 AMD-10 46.5 3.1063 <5 0.322

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11 AMD-10 148 3.0509 <5 0.246

12 AMD-10 187 3.0900 <5 0.323
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13 AMD-13 10.4 3.0420 <5 0.329

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14 AMD-13 29.5 3.0823 <5 0.234

15 AMD-13 65.5 3.2772 44.2 1.907
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16 AMD-13 187 3.1836 <5 0.314

17 AMD-14 28.4 3.1988 <5 0.156
18 AMD-14 67 3.0680 <5 0.244
19 AMD-14 143 3.0507 <5 0.164
20 AMD-14 180 3.3347 <5 0.375

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Graphical abstract

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Highlights

 ASTER classifications of alteration minerals associated with gold mineralization.

 Spectra of alteration minerals alunite, kaolinite, sericite, and calcite from USGS and JPL

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spectral libraries show shifts in position, shape, and strength

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Spectral Information Divergence (SID) classification method proved successfulness for

mapping sericite, clay minerals and calcite alteration minerals.

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 Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification identified only sericite and calcite alteration

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minerals.

 This study presented a stable and reproducible technique for mapping gold related
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hydrothermal alteration zones in areas with no dominant vegetation cover.
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