Hyperspectral mapping of magmatic-hydrothermal sericite, Battle Mountain mining district, Nevada

Abstract

We demonstrate the utility of multi-scale imaging spectroscopy data (hyperspectral data) to differentiate magmatic-hydrothermal sericite from other white micas based on grain size, in a case study of the Battle Mountain mining district in Humboldt and Lander Counties, Nevada. The Battle Mountain mining district contains porphyry, skarn, and distal disseminated deposits that formed in magmatic-hydrothermal systems, as well as sedimentary-rock hosted gold deposits of less certain origin. We generated spectral-based mineral maps of the Battle Mountain mining district to examine the spatial distribution of spectrally dominant minerals such as kaolinite, montmorillonite, and white micas (muscovite, sericite, and illite). We then used spectral-based mineral mapping to characterize the grain size and composition of white micas, enabling us to differentiate igneous muscovite from magmatic-hydrothermal sericite. By integrating our spectral-based maps with geologic mapping, airborne aeromagnetic data, and prior studies on mines and deposits in Battle Mountain, we determined that finer grained, higher Al sericite spatially correlated with the footprints of known magmatic-hydrothermal systems and is interpreted as forming from magmatic-hydrothermal alteration. Larger grained, lower Al muscovites are distal from known magmatic-hydrothermal systems and are interpreted as being igneous derived siliciclastic sediments that became constituents of the host sedimentary rocks. Techniques described in this contribution can be applied to any appropriate hyperspectral data, regardless of sensor type used to collect the data.