Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 20766 |
| Journal | Scientific reports |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 5 Sept 2024 |
| Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) exhibit diagnostic absorption features in the visible-near infrared region, enabling their detection and identification via spectroscopic methods. Satellite-based remote sensing mapping of REEs, however, has not been attainable so far due to the necessity for high-quality hyperspectral data to resolve their narrow absorption features. This research leverages EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data to map REEs in Mountain Pass, California—a mining area known to host bastnaesite-Ce ore in sövite and beforsite carbonatites. By employing a polynomial fitting technique to characterize the diagnostic absorption features of Neodymium (Nd) at ∼740 and ∼800 nm, the surface occurrence of Nd was successfully mapped at a 30m pixel resolution. The relative abundance of Nd was represented using the continuum-removed area of the 800 nm feature. The resulting map, highlighting hundreds of anomalous pixels, was validated through laboratory spectroscopy, surface geology, and high-resolution satellite imagery. This study marks a major advancement in REE exploration, demonstrating for the first time, the possibility of directly detecting Nd in geologic environments using the EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data. This capability can offer a fast and cost-effective method for screening Earth’s surfaces for REE signature, complementing the existing exploration portfolio and facilitating the discovery of new resources.
Keywords
- Absorption feature analysis, Bastnaesite, Carbonatite, Neodymium, REE exploration, Remote sensing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
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In: Scientific reports, Vol. 14, No. 1, 20766, 2024.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Detecting rare earth elements using EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data
T2 - a case study from Mountain Pass, California
AU - Asadzadeh, Saeid
AU - Koellner, Nicole
AU - Chabrillat, Sabine
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Rare earth elements (REEs) exhibit diagnostic absorption features in the visible-near infrared region, enabling their detection and identification via spectroscopic methods. Satellite-based remote sensing mapping of REEs, however, has not been attainable so far due to the necessity for high-quality hyperspectral data to resolve their narrow absorption features. This research leverages EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data to map REEs in Mountain Pass, California—a mining area known to host bastnaesite-Ce ore in sövite and beforsite carbonatites. By employing a polynomial fitting technique to characterize the diagnostic absorption features of Neodymium (Nd) at ∼740 and ∼800 nm, the surface occurrence of Nd was successfully mapped at a 30m pixel resolution. The relative abundance of Nd was represented using the continuum-removed area of the 800 nm feature. The resulting map, highlighting hundreds of anomalous pixels, was validated through laboratory spectroscopy, surface geology, and high-resolution satellite imagery. This study marks a major advancement in REE exploration, demonstrating for the first time, the possibility of directly detecting Nd in geologic environments using the EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data. This capability can offer a fast and cost-effective method for screening Earth’s surfaces for REE signature, complementing the existing exploration portfolio and facilitating the discovery of new resources.
AB - Rare earth elements (REEs) exhibit diagnostic absorption features in the visible-near infrared region, enabling their detection and identification via spectroscopic methods. Satellite-based remote sensing mapping of REEs, however, has not been attainable so far due to the necessity for high-quality hyperspectral data to resolve their narrow absorption features. This research leverages EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data to map REEs in Mountain Pass, California—a mining area known to host bastnaesite-Ce ore in sövite and beforsite carbonatites. By employing a polynomial fitting technique to characterize the diagnostic absorption features of Neodymium (Nd) at ∼740 and ∼800 nm, the surface occurrence of Nd was successfully mapped at a 30m pixel resolution. The relative abundance of Nd was represented using the continuum-removed area of the 800 nm feature. The resulting map, highlighting hundreds of anomalous pixels, was validated through laboratory spectroscopy, surface geology, and high-resolution satellite imagery. This study marks a major advancement in REE exploration, demonstrating for the first time, the possibility of directly detecting Nd in geologic environments using the EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data. This capability can offer a fast and cost-effective method for screening Earth’s surfaces for REE signature, complementing the existing exploration portfolio and facilitating the discovery of new resources.
KW - Absorption feature analysis
KW - Bastnaesite
KW - Carbonatite
KW - Neodymium
KW - REE exploration
KW - Remote sensing
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85203275184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-024-71395-2
DO - 10.1038/s41598-024-71395-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 39237664
AN - SCOPUS:85203275184
VL - 14
JO - Scientific reports
JF - Scientific reports
SN - 2045-2322
IS - 1
M1 - 20766
ER -