Hyperspectral detection of geothermal system-related soil mineralogy anomalies in Dixie Valley, Nevada: a tool for exploration

Hyperspectral data analysis has been applied to the mapping of soil anomalies that may be related to present or past geothermal systems. Anomalous accumulations of certain soil minerals can indicate buried geologic structures and possible zones of elevated permeability. Hyperspectral data can be used to map these anomalies as part of geothermal exploration activities. The study area for this project was northern Dixie Valley, Nevada, which is host to a structurally-controlled deep-circulation hydrothermal convection system. Advanced visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) airborne hyperspectral imagery was used. Both supervised and unsupervised spectral unmixing methods were tested to separate minerals from other components in the image. Both methods produced useful spectral end-members leading to the detection of anomalous soil minerals that may be related to the geothermal system and buried geologic structures.