Satellite Images for Mining and Mineral Exploration
Satellite images from sensors such as ASTER and LANDSAT 7 +ETM and recently GeoEye-1 and WorldView-2 have benefited geologists, scientists and exploration managers in earth sciences due to the sensor containing multiple band colors which allows them to interpret wavelengths that cannot be seen by the human eye, such as near infrared, short wave infrared and thermal infrared to identify the difference in structural features of the earth’s surface.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image Escondida Mine, Chile
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ASTER satellite image of Escondida Cu-Au-Ag open-pit mine is at an elevation of 3050 meters, and came on stream in 1990. Current capacity is 127,000 tons/day of ore; in 1999 production totaled 827,000 tons of copper, 150,000 ounces of gold and 3.53 million ounces of silver. Primary concentration of the ore is done on-site; the concentrate is then sent to the coast for further processing through a 170 km long, 9 pipe. Escondida is related geologically to three porphyry bodies intruded along the Chilean West Fissure Fault System. A high grade supergene cap overlies primary sulfide ore. The above ASTER satellite image displays SWIR bands 4-6-8 in RGB, and highlights lithologic and alteration differences of surface units. Satellite image acquired on April 23, 2000.
GeoEye-1 (0.5m) Satellite Image Marcona Mine, Peru
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(Copyright © GeoEye and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation. All Rights Reserved.)
GeoEye-1 (0.5m) satellite image of Marcona, Peru was collected on August 23, 2009. The major industry in the Marcona District is the Marcona Mine, an open-pit iron mine. The mine was acquired in 1992 by Shougang Corporation a state owned Chinese corporation which does business locally as Shougang Hiero Peru.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Mine in Baiyun Ebo, Inner Mongolia, China
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ASTER (15m) satellite image of mine in Baiyun Ebo, Inner Mongolia, China is the site of almost half the world’s rare earth production. China is responsible for over 95% of global production of rare earth elements. These elements are critical ingredients in catalytic converters, cell phones, televisions, lasers, magnets, batteries, and other high-tech gizmos. China’s export restrictions have led the US, Japan and the European Union to complain to the World Trade Organization, claiming China was violating trade agreements. The US at one time was a leading producer of rare earths, but most of the mines have been closed. Recently, several US companies are in the process of attempting to re-open these mines and resume mining of rare earths. The ASTER satellite image was acquired on June 30, 2006.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Morenci Mine, Arizona
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The Morenci open-pit copper mine in southeast Arizona is North America’s leading producer of copper. In the 1860s, prospectors arrived looking for gold; instead they found copper. Underground mining began in the 1870s, and the first pit was opened in 1939. Phelps Dodge employs over 200 people in the mining and refining operations. Around-the-clock removal of 700,000 tons of rock per day results in production of 382 thousand tons of copper per year. Phelps Dodge is now developing the Safford Mine, about 12 km southwest of Morenci. It will be the first new copper mine in the US in more than 30 years. When production starts in 2008, the Safford Mine will produce 109 thousand tons of copper. This ASTER (15m) satellite image uses short wavelength infrared bands to highlight in bright pink the altered rocks in the Morenci pit associated with copper mineralization. The satellite image was acquired on July 14, 2007.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Kondyor Massif, Eastern Siberia, Russia
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This is neither an impact crater nor a volcano. It is a perfect circular intrusion, about 10 km in diameter with a topographic ridge up to 600 meter high. The Kondyor Massif is located in Eastern Siberia, Russia, north of the city of Khabarovsk. It is a rare form of igneous intrusion called alkaline-ultrabasic massif and it is full of rare minerals. The river flowing out of it forms placer mineral deposits. Last year 4 tons of platinum were mined there. A remarkable and very unusual mineralogical feature of the deposit is the presence of coarse crystals of Pt-Fe alloy, coated with gold. This 3-D perspective view was created by draping a simulated natural color ASTER (15m) composite over an ASTER-derived digital elevation model (DEMs). The satellite image was acquired on June 10, 2006.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine , California
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The Mountain Pass rare earth mine is an open-pit mine of rare earth elements (REEs) in southeastern California near the Nevada border. REEs are vital for the electronics industry, auto manufacturing, and a wide range of other high-tech products. The mine once supplied most of the world’ rare earth elements until its closure in 2002. Since then, China has taken over as the leading supplier of REEs, producing over 96% of the world’s supply. In 2008, Mountain Pass was purchased by a new operator, who plans to produce 20-25% of the world’s REEs by 2014. The ASTER (15m) satellite image was acquired March 28, 2010.
ASTER (15m) Satellite Image of Naica Mine in Chihuahua, Mexico
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The Naica mine in Chihuahua, Mexico, with its enormous gypsum crystals, may well be called the Queen of the Giant Crystals localities. Though the Naica mine is no show mine, but still a working lead-zinc mine hosted in layered limestones, the first of several crystal caves was discovered in 1910. This Cave of the Swords contained extraordinary large sword-like selenite (gypsum) crystals up to 2 meter long. In 2000 another crystal cave system was discovered at 300 meter depth, even more spectacular than the original cave. Inside were free growing gypsum crystals up to 12 meter long and 2 meter in diameter. The ASTER (15m) satellite image uses SWIR bands 4, 6, and 8 in RGB. Limestone is displayed in yellow-green colors, vegetation is red. The satellite image was acquired February 16, 2004.
ASTER Satellite images credit to NASA/GSFC/METI/Japan Space Systems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team and Courtesy of Satellite Imaging Corporation
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