Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal

Central Portugal is well known for the existence of Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences primarily associated with hydrothermal processes. Despite the economic and strategic importance of such occurrences, the detailed geology of this particular region is poorly known and there is an obvious absence o...

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Main Authors: Ricardo Manuel, Maria da Graça Brito, Martim Chichorro, Carlos Rosa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-09-01
Series:Minerals
Subjects:
tin
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/7/10/184
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spelling doaj-05d9d9e5df7549fa95a0e9606e284c6e2020-11-24T23:30:14ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2017-09-0171018410.3390/min7100184min7100184Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central PortugalRicardo Manuel0Maria da Graça Brito1Martim Chichorro2Carlos Rosa3GeoBioTec, NOVA University of Lisbon , Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalGeoBioTec, NOVA University of Lisbon , Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalGeoBioTec, NOVA University of Lisbon , Quinta da Torre, 2829-516 Caparica, PortugalOzdogu Portugal Mining and Exploration Lda., 2710-444 Sintra, PortugalCentral Portugal is well known for the existence of Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences primarily associated with hydrothermal processes. Despite the economic and strategic importance of such occurrences, the detailed geology of this particular region is poorly known and there is an obvious absence of geological mapping at an adequate scale. Remote sensing techniques were used in order to increase current geological knowledge of the Góis–Castanheira de Pêra area (600 km2) and to guide future exploration stages by targeting and prioritising potential locations. Digital image processing algorithms, such as Red, Green, Blue (RGB) colour composites, digital spatial filters, band ratios and Principal Components Analysis, were applied to Landsat 8 imagery and elevation data. Lineaments were extracted relying on geological photointerpretation criteria, allowing the identification of new geological–structural elements. Fieldwork was carried out in order to validate the remote sensing interpretations. Integration of remote sensing data with other information sources led to the definition of locations possibly suitable for hosting Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences. These areas were ranked according to their mineral potential. Targeting the most promising locations resulted in a reduction to less than 10% of the original study area (50.5 km2).https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/7/10/184remote sensingmineral explorationlineamentsdigital image processingPortugalgoldtintungsten
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Ricardo Manuel
Maria da Graça Brito
Martim Chichorro
Carlos Rosa
spellingShingle Ricardo Manuel
Maria da Graça Brito
Martim Chichorro
Carlos Rosa
Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
Minerals
remote sensing
mineral exploration
lineaments
digital image processing
Portugal
gold
tin
tungsten
author_facet Ricardo Manuel
Maria da Graça Brito
Martim Chichorro
Carlos Rosa
author_sort Ricardo Manuel
title Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
title_short Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
title_full Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
title_fullStr Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
title_full_unstemmed Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration in Central Portugal
title_sort remote sensing for mineral exploration in central portugal
publisher MDPI AG
series Minerals
issn 2075-163X
publishDate 2017-09-01
description Central Portugal is well known for the existence of Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences primarily associated with hydrothermal processes. Despite the economic and strategic importance of such occurrences, the detailed geology of this particular region is poorly known and there is an obvious absence of geological mapping at an adequate scale. Remote sensing techniques were used in order to increase current geological knowledge of the Góis–Castanheira de Pêra area (600 km2) and to guide future exploration stages by targeting and prioritising potential locations. Digital image processing algorithms, such as Red, Green, Blue (RGB) colour composites, digital spatial filters, band ratios and Principal Components Analysis, were applied to Landsat 8 imagery and elevation data. Lineaments were extracted relying on geological photointerpretation criteria, allowing the identification of new geological–structural elements. Fieldwork was carried out in order to validate the remote sensing interpretations. Integration of remote sensing data with other information sources led to the definition of locations possibly suitable for hosting Sn-W and Au-Ag mineral occurrences. These areas were ranked according to their mineral potential. Targeting the most promising locations resulted in a reduction to less than 10% of the original study area (50.5 km2).
topic remote sensing
mineral exploration
lineaments
digital image processing
Portugal
gold
tin
tungsten
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/7/10/184
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AT mariadagracabrito remotesensingformineralexplorationincentralportugal
AT martimchichorro remotesensingformineralexplorationincentralportugal
AT carlosrosa remotesensingformineralexplorationincentralportugal
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