LAND OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY SPACE

India is a mineral rich country and ranks fourth amongst the mineral potential countries. According to Geological Survey of India (GSI), around 150 mineral belts with potential mineral zones/ deposits have been identified. However, the full mineral potential is yet to be explored and assessed, thus offering good opportunities for mineral exploration and mining development. Potential areas for exploration ventures include gold, diamond, copper, lead, zinc, nickel, radioactive minerals, coal, petroleum, etc. Remote Sensing and Geospatial Modeling techniques have been used for identifying potential areas of mineral occurrences in the country. With the advancements in remote sensing technology, the current research is focused on exploiting hyperspectral remote sensing and advanced modeling techniques in mineral prospecting.

· Lithological, structural &

geomorphological mapping

using remote sensing imagery

at varied scales

· Integration of geological,

geophysical and geophysical

data in GIS for finding potential

areas of mineral occurrence

· Carried out a few

demonstrative case studies in

partnership with GSI, NMDC,

State Mining & Geology

Departments

· Hyperspectral remote sensing

has the strong potential to

identify and map minerals

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

· Identification of potential areas

for further detailed exploration

· Detailed geological &

geomorphological mapping of

inaccessible areas

· Mineral-specific geo-

environmental models help in

identifying similar geo-

environment elsewhere for

planning detailed exploration

MAJOR BENEFITS

www.isro.gov.in Indian Space Research Organisation

MINERAL EXPLORATION

Copper

Lead

Zinc

Nickel

Cobalt

Geochemical Anomalies

Bed

rock

(>5

00 p

pm)

Stream

Sedim

ent (>500 ppm

)

Geochemical mapping of Sakoli Basin for mineral prognostication using GIS and remote sensing (collaborative study with GSI and National Mineral Development Corporation (NMDC))

Moderate Probability

High Probability

Low Probability

Geospatial Modeling for Diamond exploration in Anantapur District, Andhra Pradesh (collaborative study with GSI and NMDC)

www.isro.gov.in Indian Space Research Organisation

· Detailed lithological, structural and geomorphological mapping of mineral belts and inaccessible areas

· Creation and integration of geospatial databases and modeling for mineral prognostication to help take up detailed exploration activities

· Initiated the activities for preparation of spectral library of minerals and rocks

OPERATIONAL PRODUCTS / SERVICES RESEARCH AREAS

LAND OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY SPACE

MINERAL EXPLORATION

· Exploration of mineral belts of India through Hyperspectral Remote Sensing and integrated mineral-specific models capable of handling complex processes

· Exploration for Hydrocarbon through integrated exploration system

· Microwave, thermal, and high-resolution optical remote sensing data for identifying micro-mineralisation anomalies

Sheared blue quartz vein

Bauxite enrichment

Bauxite Capping

Laterite Capping

Overburden

High Probability

Moderate Probability

Low Probability

Diamond (kimberlite) exploration in Tikamgarh (Madhya Pradesh): Extracting mineral-specific anomalies from satellite remote sensing and inputting to geospatial models leading to identification of potential areas for diamond mineralisation (collaborative study with GSI and NMDC)

Remote sensing based geospatial modeling for identification of potential blocks for gold exploration. Inset shows sheared blue quartz vein in Block-1, indicator of gold mineralisation (collaborative study with GSI and NMDC)

Mapping of bauxite rich pockets in part of Ranchi Plateau (Jharkhand) using ASTER data-based indices