Continent-scale mineral information from ASTER multispectral satellite data

Continent-scale digital maps of mineral information of the Earth's land surface are now achievable using geoscience-tuned remote sensing systems. Multispectral ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) data and mineral information derived from it provide the opportunity for characterization of geological and soil processes, including the nature of soils and regolith (weathered) cover and the alteration footprints of hydrothermal ore deposits. This paper describes work from the Western Australian (WA) Centre of Excellence for 3D Mineral Mapping, which is part of CSIRO's Minerals Down Under Flagship and supported by the WA State Government, Geoscience Australia and other Australian Geological Surveys, to generate a series of ASTER mineral group maps (both content and composition) for the whole Australian continent at a 30 m pixel resolution.