Mineral and Lithologic Mapping Capability of WorldView 3 Data at Mountain Pass, California, Using True- and False-Color Composite Images, Band Ratios, and Logical Operator Algorithms

WorldView 3 (WV3) standard 2A visible near-infrared (VNIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) data of Mountain Pass, California, were calibrated to reflectance and used to map rock types and minerals using true- and false-color composite images, band ratios, and logical operator algorithms. VNIR true-color composite (V5 = red, V3 = green, and V2 = blue) and band ratio imagery were useful for mapping Fe3+-rich Proterozoic gneiss, the Aztec Sandstone, and carbonatite rocks in the Sulphide Queen rare earth element (BEE) mine pit but were unable to map neodymium-rich rocks due to low spectral resolution at VNIR wavelengths and overlap of BEE spectral absorption features with those of Fe3+-bearing minerals. SWIR false-color composite images, band ratio grayscale images, band ratio false-color composite images, and logical operator-derived mineral maps were able to map muscovite-rich Proterozoic granitic gneiss and Jurassic hydrothermally altered granites using the Al-O-H spectral absorption feature, chlorite-epidote-rich Protercrzoic schist and Jurassic skarn deposits using the ferrous iron and Fe, Mg-O-H spectral absorption features, and calcite-rich Paleozoic limestone and dolomite-rich Paleozoic dolostone using the CO32- spectral absorption feature. In addition, logical operator algorithms were able to discriminate Fe-bearing muscovite from muscovite in the polymetallic (gold and silver) Morning Star mine, which supports previous studies that suggest Fe-bearing muscovite is closely associated with mineralization.