On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing
Rare earth elements (REEs) generate characteristic absorption features in visible to shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) reflectance spectra. Neodymium (Nd) has among the most prominent absorption features of the REEs and thus represents a key pathfinder element for the REEs as a whole. Given that the wo...
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Society of Economic Geologists
2016
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Online Access: | https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/435963/1/Article https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435963 https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 |
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ftunivhullir:oai:hull-repository.worktribe.com:435963 2023-05-15T16:30:12+02:00 On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing Ferrier, Graham Black, Martin Broom-Fendley, Sam Gibson, Sally A. Neave, David A. Riley, Teal R. Wall, Frances 2016-04-08 https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/435963/1/Article https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435963 https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 unknown Society of Economic Geologists https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435963 Economic geology Volume 111 Issue 3 Pagination 641-665 doi:https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/435963/1/Article 0361-0128 doi:10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0 Rare earth elements Neodymium Remote sensing REE Journal Article publishedVersion 2016 ftunivhullir https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 2023-03-26T20:23:17Z Rare earth elements (REEs) generate characteristic absorption features in visible to shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) reflectance spectra. Neodymium (Nd) has among the most prominent absorption features of the REEs and thus represents a key pathfinder element for the REEs as a whole. Given that the world’s largest REE deposits are associated with carbonatites, we present spectral, petrographic, and geochemical data from a predominantly carbonatitic suite of rocks that we use to assess the feasibility of imaging REE deposits using remote sensing. Samples were selected to cover a wide range of extents and styles of REE mineralization, and encompass calcio-, ferro- and magnesio-carbonatites. REE ores from the Bayan Obo (China) and Mountain Pass (United States) mines, as well as REE-rich alkaline rocks from the Motzfeldt and Ilímaussaq intrusions in Greenland, were also included in the sample suite. The depth and area of Nd absorption features in spectra collected under laboratory conditions correlate positively with the Nd content of whole-rock samples. The wavelength of Nd absorption features is predominantly independent of sample lithology and mineralogy. Correlations are most reliable for the two absorption features centered at ~744 and ~802 nm that can be observed in samples containing as little as ~1,000 ppm Nd. By convolving laboratory spectra to the spectral response functions of a variety of remote sensing instruments we demonstrate that hyperspectral instruments with capabilities equivalent to the operational Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and planned Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) systems have the spectral resolutions necessary to detect Nd absorption features, especially in high-grade samples with economically relevant REE accumulations (Nd > 30,000 ppm). Adding synthetic noise to convolved spectra indicates that correlations between Nd absorption area and whole-rock Nd content only remain robust when spectra have signal-to-noise ratios in excess of ~250:1. ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland University of Hull: Repository@Hull Ferro ENVELOPE(16.233,16.233,66.717,66.717) Greenland Obo ENVELOPE(149.647,149.647,61.851,61.851) Economic Geology 111 3 641 665 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Hull: Repository@Hull |
op_collection_id |
ftunivhullir |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Rare earth elements Neodymium Remote sensing REE |
spellingShingle |
Rare earth elements Neodymium Remote sensing REE Ferrier, Graham Black, Martin Broom-Fendley, Sam Gibson, Sally A. Neave, David A. Riley, Teal R. Wall, Frances On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
topic_facet |
Rare earth elements Neodymium Remote sensing REE |
description |
Rare earth elements (REEs) generate characteristic absorption features in visible to shortwave infrared (VNIR-SWIR) reflectance spectra. Neodymium (Nd) has among the most prominent absorption features of the REEs and thus represents a key pathfinder element for the REEs as a whole. Given that the world’s largest REE deposits are associated with carbonatites, we present spectral, petrographic, and geochemical data from a predominantly carbonatitic suite of rocks that we use to assess the feasibility of imaging REE deposits using remote sensing. Samples were selected to cover a wide range of extents and styles of REE mineralization, and encompass calcio-, ferro- and magnesio-carbonatites. REE ores from the Bayan Obo (China) and Mountain Pass (United States) mines, as well as REE-rich alkaline rocks from the Motzfeldt and Ilímaussaq intrusions in Greenland, were also included in the sample suite. The depth and area of Nd absorption features in spectra collected under laboratory conditions correlate positively with the Nd content of whole-rock samples. The wavelength of Nd absorption features is predominantly independent of sample lithology and mineralogy. Correlations are most reliable for the two absorption features centered at ~744 and ~802 nm that can be observed in samples containing as little as ~1,000 ppm Nd. By convolving laboratory spectra to the spectral response functions of a variety of remote sensing instruments we demonstrate that hyperspectral instruments with capabilities equivalent to the operational Airborne Visible-Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) and planned Environmental Mapping and Analysis Program (EnMAP) systems have the spectral resolutions necessary to detect Nd absorption features, especially in high-grade samples with economically relevant REE accumulations (Nd > 30,000 ppm). Adding synthetic noise to convolved spectra indicates that correlations between Nd absorption area and whole-rock Nd content only remain robust when spectra have signal-to-noise ratios in excess of ~250:1. ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Ferrier, Graham Black, Martin Broom-Fendley, Sam Gibson, Sally A. Neave, David A. Riley, Teal R. Wall, Frances |
author_facet |
Ferrier, Graham Black, Martin Broom-Fendley, Sam Gibson, Sally A. Neave, David A. Riley, Teal R. Wall, Frances |
author_sort |
Ferrier, Graham |
title |
On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
title_short |
On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
title_full |
On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
title_fullStr |
On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
title_full_unstemmed |
On the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
title_sort |
on the feasibility of imaging carbonatite-hosted rare earth element deposits using remote sensing |
publisher |
Society of Economic Geologists |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/435963/1/Article https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435963 https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(16.233,16.233,66.717,66.717) ENVELOPE(149.647,149.647,61.851,61.851) |
geographic |
Ferro Greenland Obo |
geographic_facet |
Ferro Greenland Obo |
genre |
Greenland |
genre_facet |
Greenland |
op_relation |
https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/435963 Economic geology Volume 111 Issue 3 Pagination 641-665 doi:https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/file/435963/1/Article 0361-0128 doi:10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 |
op_rights |
openAccess http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.2113/econgeo.111.3.641 |
container_title |
Economic Geology |
container_volume |
111 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
641 |
op_container_end_page |
665 |
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1766019926897721344 |