171 Advancing Geologic Analysis with Digital Outcrops and Close-Range Remote Sensing Data

This session highlights close-range remote sensing techniques (e.g., photogrammetry, LiDAR, hyperspectral imaging) in geologic analysis, focusing on innovative methodologies, workflows, case studies, and applications in structural geology, sedimentology, paleobiology, and critical mineral exploration.

Tuesday, 21 October 2025
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
HBGCC, 301C

Multispectral Analysis of Alteration Minerals Associated with Porphyry Copper Mineralization in Eastern Kazakhstan: A Case Study from Aktogay

Paper number: 171-10
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 10:25 AM – 10:40 AM

Authors

Abstract

Copper is a critical metal for modern technologies and sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies like Kazakhstan. Porphyry copper deposits are major sources of this metal, but traditional exploration methods are often costly, time-consuming, and environmentally intrusive. This study presents a remote sensing-based approach for mapping hydrothermal alteration zones associated with the Aktogay porphyry copper deposit in eastern Kazakhstan. Utilizing Landsat-8 and ASTER satellite imagery, we applied advanced image processing techniques—including band ratios, principal component analysis (PCA), and the Crosta method—to identify key alteration zones indicative of mineralization. Field validation, including geological lineament mapping and petrographic analysis of rock samples, confirmed the remote sensing results. ASTER data, particularly when processed with specialized band ratios and the Crosta technique, proved highly effective in delineating potassic, propylitic, argillic, and iron oxide alteration zones. These zones, aligned with high-density structural features, suggest strong spatial correlation with underlying ore bodies. The findings demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of satellite-based mineral exploration in geologically complex and underexplored regions. This approach offers a rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods and provides a scalable model for early-stage exploration in Kazakhstan and other resource-rich developing countries.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-412157

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