Hyperspectral imaging spectroscopy of a Mars analogue environment at the North Pole Dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia

• Published in: Australian journal of earth sciences Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 353 - 364
• Main Authors: Brown, AJ, Walter, MR, Cudahy, TJ
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd 01.06.2005
• Subjects: Archaean; hydrothermal; hyperspectral; Mars; North Pole Dome; Pilbara Craton; Australia, Western Australia; Australia, Western Australia, Pilbara Craton; PN, Arctic, North Pole
• ISSN: 0812-0099; 1440-0952
• DOI: 10.1080/08120090500134530

A visible and near infrared (VNIR) to shortwave infrared (SWIR) hyperspectral dataset of the Early Archaean North Pole Dome, Pilbara Craton, Western Australia, has been analysed for indications of hydrothermal alteration. Occurrence maps of hydrothermal alteration minerals were produced. It was found that using a spatial resolution on the ground of approximately 5 m and spectral coverage from 0.4 to 2.5 μm was sufficient to delineate several hydrothermal alteration zones and associated veins, including phyllic, serpentinitic and chloritic alteration. These results suggest this level of spectral and spatial resolution would be ideal for localising shallow epithermal activity, should such activity have existed, on the surface of Mars.