Aster Imagery And Aeromagnetic Data - Powerful Tools To Aid Reconnaissance Geologic Mapping Of The Sierra San José Mountain Range, Northern Sonora State, Mexico

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Aeromagnetic and Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data are currently being used to assist in geologic mapping of the Sierra San Jose region in the Sonoran San Pedro River basin. Lithologic contacts have also been mapped using Euler deconvolution of aeromagnetic data. A lithologic classification map consisting of quartzfeldspar, clay-muscovite-sericite, and carbonate was produced using thresholded match filter ASTER data and relative band depth absorption analysis (RBD). A minimum noise transform (MNF) false color composite image was used to map lithologic units. A false color composite image of ASTER bands 1 (blue), 2 (green) and 3 (red) was also used to determine the extent of vegetation and assist in mapping structural features, although most of the structural features could be mapped using high altitude stereo pair imagery. To date, field studies indicate that ASTER data have successfully mapped carbonates, sericite, and muscovite and with lesser success have also helped characterize quartz-rich rocks. In addition, our field studies, along with ASTER and Landsat data, have confirmed lithologic contacts at the surface mapped by Euler deconvolution of the aeromag.