Abstract
This study demonstrates the capability of Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) sensor data to remotely map industrial carbonate rocks known as the ‘Oman exotics’ of the Sultanate of Oman. We measured reflectance spectra of marble using a PIMA™ spectrometer and studied their spectral absorptions distinguishing calcite from spectral absorptions of dolomite of the same region. The spectral band 8 of ASTER is processed by simple decorrelation stretch image processing method to map the exotic limestone rock of the Nakhl region, Oman. Results showed that carbonate rocks displayed distinctive tonal variation on the image. A comparative study with the spectral band 7 of Landsat 7 (ETM+) does not discriminate the calcite-bearing marbles and associated carbonate formations in the studied area. ASTER data were also processed by the application of the Maximum Likelihood Classification (MLC), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) image classification algorithms. The results were assessed by the production of a confusion matrix. The study shows the capability of visible near infrared (VNIR) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral bands of the ASTER sensor and potential of the image processing methods to remotely identify industrial carbonate rocks and we recommend this technique to similar regions of the world.
Highlights
IntroductionDimension stone is a natural stone with specific dimensions for use in the building industries
Dimension stone is a natural stone with specific dimensions for use in the building industries.It includes limestone, marble, sandstone, gabbro, granite, serpentine, and gneiss [1]
We focus on comparing spectral bands 8 of ASTER and 7 of ETM+
Summary
Dimension stone is a natural stone with specific dimensions for use in the building industries. It includes limestone, marble, sandstone, gabbro, granite, serpentine, and gneiss [1]. The uses of dimension stone are based on several criteria such as (1) the likelihood of extracting blocks larger than 1 m2 ; (2) the engineering and geotechnical properties of the stone (e.g., compressive strength, water absorption, density, and porosity); (3) the appearance of the stone when cut and polished; and (4) the accessibility of the site of extraction [2]. Oman is endowed with huge natural resources for dimension stones. The major industries in Oman are based on industrial rocks and minerals mainly in the construction sector. Due to recent high economic developments in Oman, there is a corresponding increase in construction activities, relating to a high demand for construction materials
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