Satellite image derived spectral modeling to assess the grades of hematite deposits: a study on Noamundi area in West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand

Abstract

The mineralogical composition of the hematite deposited-surface is investigated by a spectral model. The model involved in the gradation of hematite ore from the Hyperion satellite image. The analysis is restricted within the visible near-infrared wavelength range. Pre-processing was carried out for radiance to reflectance conversion, dimensionality reduction, and minimizes scanning errors of image data. Typical image spectral modeling follows the steps of continuum removal, peak and absorption position of the spectra, band-depth calculation, spectral slope, and full width half maximum. Well defined relationships are obvious between the concentrations of iron oxide and (a) slope between peak and absorption trough (R²:0.729); (b) FWHM (R²:0.853). Therefore, the Lucey’s model was utilized to generate the hematite abundance map. The result was validated by observed relationships between predicted and actual Fe with R²:0.80 and average error ±3.81%. This study exhibits the possibility of evaluations of iron grades in view of image-spectral parameters.

Keywords:

• EO-1 hyperion
• FLAASH
• BDs
• RRD
• empirical model
• absorption and peak position

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), USA for providing EO-1 Hyperion, which is most important for this study. Our sincere thanks to Dr. D. Dutta and Mr. Y. K. Srivastava, NRSC/ISRO for their encouragement of this study. Our thanks are also due to Jharkhand Space Applications Center, Ranchi and Ministry of Environment & Forest & Climate change, RO-Ranchi. M/s TATA Steel Limited helped us for field visit and identifies of iron grade location and also appreciates comments of the unknown reviewer and their constructive comments and valuable suggestions that improved our manuscript. We are grateful to the Government of India, for providing opportunity and encouragement for research work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.