The use of #hyperspectral #technology allows us to detect and map #minerals that are not easy to distinguish with the naked eye. Comparable to certain trace elements in #geochemical analysis, #pathfinder minerals can help #explorers narrow the search space for different types of #mineralization.
Prehnite, a relatively common calcium aluminosilicate, is increasingly recognized as an important pathfinder in #hydrothermal environments, particularly in #gold #skarn and #copper +/- gold #porphyry systems. However, prehnite generally has unremarkable physical features and can easily be confused with similar minerals, such as epidote.
The good news? Prehnite has diagnostic #spectral #features in the #VNIR and #SWIR (at ~1475nm, ~2240nm and ~ 2355nm). This allows Corescan to detect prehnite occurrences reliably and accurately, and we can continuously map its distribution through complex #alteration zones.
#Prehnite is just one of the key pathfinders #minerals that can be detected with #hyperspectral #technology.
#hyperspectralcoreimaging #HCI #HSI #mineralexploration #mining #Corescan #Coreshed #geology #spectroscopy #spectroscopists #minex #geology #geologists #geoscience #geometallurgy #metallurgy