44 Environmental Geoscience (Posters)

Wednesday, 11 March 2026
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
RCC, Lower Level Hall

Reflective spectroscopy and surface characterization of the Madison Limestone: Progress towards improving remote sensing for lost persons in search & rescue and forensics

Paper number: 44-14
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

The Madison Limestone is a major stratigraphic group of Mississippian age limestone with its distribution ranging in the Rocky Mountains and the great plains from northern Canada down to New Mexico. It has major outcrop exposure in Montana, Wyoming, and the surrounding area. It is primarily composed of bluish grey limestone and dolomite. The Madison Limestone has significant geologic importance, being a reservoir rock for oil, hydrocarbons, natural gases and forms aquifers in the region. The Madison Limestone is exposed in complex terrains which serve as recreational use areas as well. A major issue in outdoor environments is missing persons. This is an issue relating to hikers and the outdoor recreation community, and crime. Lost hikers and missing people create challenging emergencies often with limited time and spatial contexts. Hyperspectral remote sensing/image spectroscopy (HRS/IS) is an approach that can be used to search for lost hikers and missing persons, provided a useful spectral library is available. Detailed reflective spectral data on the Madison Limestone substrate can greatly improve search and rescue efforts and aid in remote sensing of people and human materials such as their clothes or hiking gear against the Madison group outcropping in this region. Madison Limestone samples were collected in northwestern Montana. Multiple surfaces on 10 of these samples light reflection were measured with an Analytical Spectral Device (ASD) spectroradiometer and 6 most representative samples were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Representative spectral data was also obtained on items such as clothing, backpacks, and geologic field tools. Variation in Madison Limestone reflective spectra is largely explained by variable amounts of Fe-Mn-oxide coatings. Items that may be associated with lost hikers such as clothing and backpacks are generally spectrally distinct from the Madison Limestone. Results from these analyses provide search and rescue teams with valuable HRS/IS contexts and can lead to quicker, more efficient rescue practices. Data may also improve searches for humans in multiple contexts including crime scene investigations.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-411626

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