Recognition and Mapping of Structural Guides for Barytes Mineral Exploration in Parts of Kadapa District using Remote Sensing and GIS

Abstract

Identification and mapping of structural criteria of a region reveals information about the occurrence of ore deposits of igneous and metamorphic origin. Remote Sensing and GIS data helps in detection of such structural features, like faults, lineament, folds, etc. These are important guides for exploration of ore mineral and groundwater. Kadapa district hosts important ore minerals of igneous and metamorphic origin like Barytes, asbestos, gold, galena, steatite etc. Barytes is exploited in the district since a long past. Present study is taken up to prepare structural map along the existing Barytes mines in the district using geospatial techniques like Remote Sensing and GIS, with an intension to identify new Barytes mineralized locations through these structural guides. The structural data of any region provides a quick payback with faster, more accurate mineral identification for gold, silver, diamonds, iron, nickel, copper, uranium, aluminum, Barytes, and also provide rock and mineral relationship in search for ore deposits during exploration. Structural criteria, is an important measure in mineral exploration of certain mineral deposits that are confined by geographic, geological and tectonic features. Mainly the occurrence of ore deposits is dependent on neighboring lithology and structural deformation of the location area. Endogenous mineral deposits like tin, muscovite, lithium, tungsten, gold, beryl, gemstones etc. are associated with intermediate and acid rocks like syenite; granite, granodiorite. etc., and deposits of copper, nickel, cobalt, silver, arsenic and apatite are formed in basic rocks like gabbro, norite, diorite, etc. Due to false nature of ore bodies and their varied controls of mineralization the techniques used for mineral exploration such as remote sensing followed by ground and airborne geophysical surveys, stream sediment, litho-geochemical surveys and core drilling have been used for regional and detailed surveys. The aspect that indicate the mineralisation are known as localizers. If these indicators can be identified on satellite data/imagery then the mineral explorations can be much faster with increased efficiency.

Keywords: Multispectral, LISS-III Satellite Imagery, SOI Toposheet remote sensing, GIS

Cite this Article

Ramachandra M., Raghu Babu K., Pradeep Kumar B. et al. Recognition and Mapping of Structural Guides for Barytes Mineral Exploration in Parts of Kadapa District using Remote Sensing and GIS. Journal of Remote Sensing & GIS. 2018; 9(3): 30–36p.