Application of hyperspectral remote sensing data in the monitoring of the environmental impact of hazardous waste derived from abandoned mine sites

Abstract The release of hazardous mine waste from abandoned gold mining areas is a major global environmental problem. The complexity of the processes, the scale of the mine sites, problems with accessibility and the lack of site information mean that field-based survey methods are often too costly and provide incomplete coverage. The results of a study of an abandoned gold mine at Rodalquilar in southern Spain have demonstrated the potential of airborne-mounted hyperspectral remote sensing instruments to resolve the distributions of mine waste and secondary iron species on the mine site and in adjacent rivers. The advantages of using higher spatial resolution hyperspectral data in identifying secondary iron species and resolving geomorphological settings of mine waste accumulations were also demonstrated. Integration of laboratory-derived correlations of secondary iron species, cyanide and heavy metals concentrations with the results of the remote sensing study allowed the identification of locations of hazardous materials over the study area and a more accurate understanding of the environmental status of the Rodalquilar area.

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