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From:

Clark, R.N., G.A. Swayze, and A. Gallagher, Mapping the Mineralogy and Lithology of Canyonlands, Utah with Imaging Spectrometer Data and the Multiple Spectral Feature Mapping Algorithm Summaries of the Third Annual JPL Airborne Geosciences Workshop, Volume 1: AVIRIS Workshop. JPL Publication 92-14, 11-13, 1992.

Mapping the Mineralogy and Lithology of Canyonlands, Utah with Imaging Spectrometer Data and the Multiple Spectral Feature Mapping Algorithm

Roger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, and Andrea Gallagher

U. S. Geological Survey, MS 964

Box 25046 Federal Center

Denver, CO 80225

The sedimentary sections exposed in the Canyonlands and Arches National Parks region of Utah (generally referred to as "Canyonlands") consist of sandstones, shales, limestones and conglomerates. Reflectance spectra of weathered surfaces of rocks from these areas show two components: 1) variations in spectrally detectable mineralogy and 2) variations in the relative ratios of the absorption bands between minerals. Both types of information can be used together to map each major lithology and we are applying the Clark et al. (1990, 1991) spectral features mapping algorithm to do the job.

AVIRIS was flown over Upheaval Dome in Canyonlands National Park and over Arches National Park in May 1991. The data were calibrated to ground reflectance using multiple ground calibration sites to derive the offset due to path radiance as well as a set of multipliers to correct to ground reflectance. The resulting data set (about 11 km wide by 30 km in length for each of two flight lines) show reflectance spectra of well exposed sedimentary units. Several vegetation communities, microbiotic soils, lichens, and desert varnish are also present and add to the difficulty of mapping lithologies.

In the Canyonlands region, several formations of Pennsylvanian through Cretaceous age are exposed (Table 1). Many of the same minerals are present in the different formations, with variable band strengths, usually related to abundance changes. Mapping these different lithologies requires not only the detection of the individual minerals but also their relative proportions. Such analysis can be accomplished by mapping specific minerals (e.g. Clark et al. 1990, 1991) and examining the ratios of the band depths of indicator minerals. Another approach is to use spectra representative of each unit as a reference spectrum. The minerals in these spectra display absorption bands in their different proportions, and the "Multiple Spectral Feature Mapping Algorithm" weights each feature according to the area between the continuum and the reflectance curve, thus restricting allowable mineralogy. Examples of the success of this method in mapping the above units will be presented.

Example presented at the conference: 540K GIF

Smaller version of Example presented at the conference: 150K GIF

Key to colors in spectrolithologic maps (3.8K GIF)

-------------------------------------------------
                   Table 1
 Detectable (0.4-2.5 microns) Mineralogy of Geologic
Formations in Canyonlands, Utah, as Indicated by
         Reflectance Spectroscopy
-------------------------------------------------
Mancos Shale:       (S) calcite    (M) kaolinite
                    (W) gypsum     (t) goethite

Dakota Sandstone:   (M) illite     (M) goethite
                    (W) kaolinite  (t) calcite

Morrison Formation: (S) Fe-illite  (M) Chert
                    (M) hematite   (W) calcite
                    (W) V-illite

Entrada Sandstone:  (M) kaolinite  (M) hematite

Navajo Sandstone:   (M) hematite   (t) kaolinite
                    (M) illite/smectite

Kayenta Formation:  (M) hematite   (M) calcite
                    (t) kaolinite

Wingate Sandstone   (S) hematite   (M) kaolinite
                    (W) muscovite

Chinle Formation    (S) muscovite  (S) hematite
                    (W) kaolinite  (W) calcite

Moenkopi Formation  (M) hematite   (M) muscovite
                    (W) kaolinite  (t) calcite

Cutler Formation    (S) kaolinite  (W) goethite
                    (t) calcite

Paradox Formation   (S) illite/smectite
                    (M) goethite   (M) Gypsum
-------------------------------------------------
Spectral band intensity:
(S)= strong, (M)= medium, (W)= weak (t)= trace
-------------------------------------------------

Clark, R.N., A.J. Gallagher, and G.A. Swayze, Material Absorption Band Depth Mapping of Imaging Spectrometer Data Using a Complete Band Shape Least-Squares Fit with Library Reference Spectra, Proceedings of the Second Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) Workshop. JPL Publication 90-54, 176-186, 1990.

Clark, R.N., G.A. Swayze, A. Gallagher, N. Gorelick, and F. Kruse, Mapping with Imaging Spectrometer Data Using the Complete Band Shape Least-Squares Algorithm Simultaneously Fit to Multiple Spectral Features from Multiple Materials, Proceedings of the Third Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) Workshop, JPL Publication 91-28, 2-3, 1991.

U.S. Geological Survey, a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior

This page URL= http://speclab.cr.usgs.gov/PAPERS.arches.92/arches.geology.92.html
This page is maintained by: Dr. Roger N. Clark rclark@speclab.cr.usgs.gov
Last modified November 18, 1998.