Application of ASTER images for identification and localization of iron minerals in red mud dumps of the Ural aluminum plant

Abstract

Abstract Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) was used to identify and mapping of industrially and environmentally important iron oxides and hydroxides in red mud dumps. In paper we were focused on specified region of interests - one of the largest boxite processing manufactory in Russia Ural Aluminum Plan (UAP). Initially we use ASTER L1T images. The graph of processing includes band relationship, principal component analysis and spectral angle mapper procedures for identifying spatial distribution of targeted minerals. Several minerals were mapped within red mud dumps No 2 and No 3: Hematite, Goetite, Jarosite and Magnetite. At the next stage the Scanning Electronic Microscopy (SEM) of red mud mineral samples was carried out. The results show a good correlation between remote sensing techniques and standard mineralogical analysis (SEM) method. In both cases the principal iron oxides and hydroxides were observed. Combination of remote sensing and traditional mineralogical analysis methods allows to increase the reliability of assessing ore potential and efficiency of planning utilization technologies for wastes in technogenic deposits. In addition, processing of several ASTER images from different time gap (2004 and 2015) allows to trace in dynamics the transformation of mineral composition in red muds.