Satellite Mineral Exploration

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Satellite Minex Placer deposits
Mapping Palaeo-channels shorelines for placer
deposits
Beach sands and alluvial deposits are well known
targets in the exploration of heavy minerals. NPA
have used both Landsat and radar satellites to
map not only present day drainage patterns but
also palaeo-drainage and shorelines.
Using Landsat ETM data NPA have mapped several
palaeo-shorelines around lake Chad in Central
Africa.
Mapping Kimberlite pipes
Kimberlite pipes are often represented
topographically by shallow circular depressions.
These are rarely apparent at ground level but are
clearly noticeable when viewed on satellite
imagery where the drainage system is likely to
have a curvilinear form. They are also often
associated with the intersection of extensional
fault systems or on the bend of strike-slip fault
systems. Although diamonds are rarely found in
kimberlites the drainage systems dissipating from
them can be mapped using satellite imagery.
Mapping using radar
Using radar to map drainage regimes
A strip of data from the first Shuttle Imaging
Radar (SIR-A) has been superimposed on a Landsat
image of the Western Desert of Egypt. Ancient
dried up river channels (wadis), often covered by
a layer of sand, are delineated much more clearly
on the radar imagery. Identification of wadis
helps to locate palaeo-river channels and river
systems and therefore the possible location of
placer deposits.
Satellite Mineral Exploration