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Identification of Exploration Targets in the Iberian Pyrite Belt using Hyperspectral and Geophysical Data
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, 81st EAGE Conference and Exhibition 2019, Jun 2019, Volume 2019, p.1 - 5
Abstract
The Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), located in Spain and Portugal, is one of the world's largest polymetallic massive sulphide complexes with predominantly Cu, Pb and Zn mineralisations. The mining potential is still existing, but as prospecting and exploration is becoming increasingly expensive, there is a need for efficient and application-oriented methods to identify potential targets. The synergistic combination of remote sensing and geophysical data provide information on the Earth's surface and subsurface and aims to meet these demands.
Terrestrial hyperspectral data as well as airborne radiometric and gradient magnetic data are acquired in and around the open pit of Los Frailes in Spain to i) test this approach locally on the known occurrence of an original ore body and ii) to search for potential prospecting and exploration targets in the adjacent area. The hyperspectral, radiometric and gradient magnetic data confirm the former presence of the known ore body due to mineralogical, potassic and magnetic patterns. Furthermore, the data reveal similar signals higher up in the stratigraphy, indicating another ore body. This potential prospecting and exploration target will be investigated by further airborne and field data to validate the model.