Investigation of FUYO-1 (JERS) OPS-SWIR bands for mineral exploration

FUYO/OPS-shortwave infrared (SWIR) bands have been assessed on their ability to discriminate and identify minerals of the Al-OH and Mg-OH groups, and to separate distinct carbonates from each other as well as from non carbonatic rocks and soils. This research also focuses on the possibilities of discriminating and identifying mineral assemblages in hydrothermal alteration halos, including Fe2+,3+-bands in the visible and near infrared range (VIS/NIR). Results are compared to LANDSAT TM data to gauge the examined technical parameters of OPS level 2 data and to investigate the effectiveness of three distinct subdivisional SWIR bands versus one in the 2.2 micrometer atmospheric window. FUYO/OPS data show comparable results to LANDSAT TM data for entropy, SNR, LSF and spectral corrrelation for the VIS/NIR bands. Although significant image defects, like blur and response delay problems, affect the three OPS-SWIR bands centered within the 2.2 micrometer window, a distinct separation of features producing minerals like kaolinite, alunite, gypsum and carbonates could be obtained from an arid test-site in the Negev desert using image processing and data extraction methods. The OPS-SWIR bands in combination with the VIS/NIR bands allow for an improved discrimination of alteration halos as compared to a single SWIR band (TM).