Reflectance spectrometry of rocks from the comstock lode (Virginia City, Nevada, USA) and its comparison with X-ray diffraction

Abstract

This paper presents the results of mineralogical analysis of hydrothermal altered rocks from the Comstock Lode, near Virginia City, Nevada, USA, using two different techniques: reflectance spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. These results are discussed based on their quickness, accuracy and low costs. The applicability to mineral mapping using high spectral resolution remote sensing images is also briefly discussed. Comparison of the results obtained for both techniques have a good degree of correlation, showing that reflectance spectrometry represents an expedite, simple and relatively inexpensive technique, capable of mapping numerous minerals in the field or in laboratory.