Video processing of remote sensor data applied to uranium exploration in Wyoming. [Roll-front U deposits]

Technical Report · Sat Jun 30 04:00:00 EDT 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5748874· OSTI ID:5748874

Levinson, R. A.; Marrs, R. W.; Crockell, F.

LANDSAT satellite imagery and aerial photography can be used to map areas of altered sandstone associated with roll-front uranium deposits. Image data must be enhanced so that alteration spectral contrasts can be seen, and video image processing is a fast, low-cost, and efficient tool. For LANDSAT data, the 7/4 ratio produces the best enhancement of altered sandstone. The 6/4 ratio is most effective for color infrared aerial photography. Geochemical and mineralogical associations occur in unaltered, altered, and ore roll-front zones. Samples from Pumpkin Buttes show that iron is the primary coloring agent which makes alteration visually detectable. Eh and pH changes associated with passage of a roll front cause oxidation of magnetite and pyrite to hematite, goethite, and limonite in the host sandstone, thereby producing the alteration. Statistical analysis show that the detectability of geochemical and color zonation in host sands is weakened by soil-forming processes. Alteration can only be mapped in areas of thin soil cover and moderate to sparse vegetative cover.

• Research Organization: Wyoming Univ., Laramie (USA). Dept. of Geology
• OSTI ID: 5748874
• Report Number(s): GJBX-171(79)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050200* -- Nuclear Fuels-- Exploration-- (-1987)
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
DATA ANALYSIS
DATA PROCESSING
GEOCHEMISTRY
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGY
IMAGES
IRON COMPOUNDS
IRON OXIDES
MINERALOGY
NORTH AMERICA
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHOTOGRAPHY
PLANTS
PROCESSING
REMOTE SENSING
RESOURCES
ROCKS
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION
SANDSTONES
SATELLITES
SEDIMENTARY ROCKS
SOILS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
URANIUM DEPOSITS
USA
WYOMING