ASTER capability in mapping of mineral resources of arid region: A review on mapping of mineral resources of the Sultanate of Oman

• Published in: Ore geology reviews Vol. 108; pp. 33 - 53
• Main Authors: Rajendran, Sankaran, Nasir, Sobhi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.05.2019
• Subjects: Arid region; ASTER mapping; Image processing; Mineral resources; Sultanate of Oman; Sultanate of Oman; Image processing; Arid region; ASTER mapping; Mineral resources
• ISSN: 0169-1368; 1872-7360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oregeorev.2018.04.014

Principal Components RGB image (R: PC3, G: PC2 and B: PC1) showing the occurrence of manganese deposits in Ras Al Hadd region, Oman. [Display omitted] •This study reviews the capability of ASTER to map mineral resources of the arid region.•It describes spectral absorption characters of minerals.•It discusses suitable ASTER spectral bands and image processing methods to map mineral resources.•It reviews scientific literature published on mapping of the mineral resources of Oman. Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) has exclusive capability to map minerals and ore deposits, and able to discriminate rock types useful for geological applications. Especially, the improved spectral and spatial resolutions of spectral bands of the sensor are well utilized by the exploration geologists working on arid region where the surface deposits are directly exposed to the sensor without disturbances of the vegetation. Several, fruitful research studies have been carried out to map mineral resources in arid region with inaccessible rugged mountains and deserts area, where it is difficult to do conventional geological mapping. These were demonstrated and documented in the scientific publications using the ASTER spectral bands and image processing methods. This study reviews scientific literatures published on mapping of the economic mineral resources of the Sultanate of Oman using ASTER and simples image processing methods.