Integrating Mineralogical Interpretation of HyLogger Data with HyMap Mineral Mapping, Mount Painter, South Australia

Abstract

HyLogger, HyMap and PIMA II are three hyperspectral spectrometers variously sampling the electromagnetic spectrum between 450 and 2500 nm. At Blue Mine in the Mount Painter Province of South Australia, the opportunity arose to make a direct comparison of the three instruments. Drill hole BM5, an inclined diamond drill hole, intersected steeply dipping stratigraphy which outcrops in the steeply sloping, scree covered hills immediately above. HyMap data flown over the same district presented 5 × 5 m pixels each carrying spectra defined by 128 channel reflectance data from along the surface projected line of BM5.

This project has demonstrated that the three hyperspectral instruments provide mutually corroborative datasets in their ability to map mineralogy. It is clear that there remain significant differences between spectral datasets even after pre-processing. These differences limit the opportunity for automated mineral identification. In spite of those differences key common spectral features were identified in each dataset and mineralogical boundaries delineated.

A new subunit within the Wortupa Quartzite, identified mineralogically with these instruments, potentially offers better targeting of mineralisation in this part of the stratigraphy.