Improved Geological Mapping with Sentinel Data

GAF has recently completed an ESA-funded project to support the African Mineral Geoscience Initiative (AMGI). The World Bank-initiated AMGI project is a pan-African initiative for the collection, consolidation, interpretation and effective dissemination of national and regional geological, geochemical, geophysical and mineral resource data through a geoportal. It is aimed at developing a complete geological data catalogue for the whole of Africa in relation to mineral resources.

One objective of this project was to test new publicly available Sentinel data and other satellite data (optical, radar and DEM) to produce improved geological maps in various climate zones and geologic settings. The envisaged scale was 1:50,000 and 1:25,000.

In this frame, GAF also developed automated workflows for hydrothermal mineral mapping and standardised attribution schemes based on Sentinel and other satellite data in the four demonstration areas. The satellite-derived maps are integrated in a common database with geoscientific ancillary data for a synoptic interpretation.

Geological information catalogue

Excellent results were obtained in arid to semi-arid areas while tropical areas remain a challenge for geological interpretation of optical sensors due to the strong vegetation cover. In these areas the geological interpretation based mainly on radar and DEM data and thus the interpretation is predominantly focused on structural interpretation.

This project successfully demonstrates on how to map large areas in a fast, efficient and area wide mode. The approach is of particular interest for regional geological surveys as well as for mineral exploration. The results will fuel the geological information catalogue for Africa and provide an important input to AMGI, which seeks the improved information access for governments, mineral stakeholders, and more generally for planners and natural resource managers - thus becoming an enabler for future investments in Africa. The project is funded by the European Space Agency (ESA).

Combining satellite imagery with existing geodata

Francisco Igualada, task team leader of the AMGI project, stated that in the context of the AMGI project, satellite Earth observation (EO) data and derived products have been identified as one of the major sources of information especially for newly improved geological mapping. The results of the project successfully demonstrated that satellite imagery combined with existing geoscientific data of geophysical nature is a fast, effective and efficient mode to support the interpretation and final production of geological maps in all scales that are relevant for mineral exploration – from low-scale reconnaissance mapping to a detailed survey.