Lithologic mapping using Landsat thematic mapper data

M. H. Podwysocki; J.W. Salisbury; O. D. Jones; D.L. Mimms

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Lithologic mapping using Landsat thematic mapper data

M. H. Podwysocki·J.W. Salisbury·O. D. Jones·D.L. Mimms

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Abstract

The Landsat-4 Thematic Mapper (TM), with its new near infrared bands centered at 1.65 μm and 2.20 μm and spatial resolution of 30 m has been used to distinguish rocks containing minerals having ferric-iron absorption bands in the visible and near-infrared and Al-O- and CO 3 absorption bands in the 2.1-2.4 μm regions. On the basis of characteristic absorption bands, digitally processed TM data were used to differentiate vegetated from non-vegetated areas, limonitic from nonlimonitic rocks, rocks containing minerals having absorption bands in the near-infrared region from rocks lacking infrared absorption bands. Specific minerals were detected in both the humid eastern and semi-arid western United States. The absorption bands in the near-infrared region were used to detect kaolinite in open-pit exposures of a kaolin mining district near Macon, Georgia; calcium carbonate in the back sands along the east coast of Floridia; and kaolinite, alunite, jarosite, sericite and gypsum in natural exposures near Boulder City, Nevada. These results show that the additional spectral bands in the near-infrared region and increased spatial resolution of the Thematic Mapper provide a valuable tool for distinguishing several significant geologic materials not distinguishable from space using previous imaging systems. They also show that TM data can be successfully used in a variety of geologic environments.

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M. H. Podwysocki, J.W. Salisbury, O. D. Jones, D.L. Mimms. 1983. Lithologic mapping using Landsat thematic mapper data. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70112976

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