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Detecting rare earth elements using EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data: a case study from Mountain Pass, California

Authors
/persons/resource/saeid

Asadzadeh,  Saeid
1.4 Remote Sensing, 1.0 Geodesy, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;
Submitting Corresponding Author, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/nicolek

Koellner,  Nicole
1.4 Remote Sensing, 1.0 Geodesy, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

/persons/resource/chabri

Chabrillat,  S.
1.4 Remote Sensing, 1.0 Geodesy, Departments, GFZ Publication Database, Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum;

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5027885.pdf
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Citation

Asadzadeh, S., Koellner, N., Chabrillat, S. (2024): Detecting rare earth elements using EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data: a case study from Mountain Pass, California. - Scientific Reports, 14, 20766.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-71395-2


Cite as: https://gfzpublic.gfz-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_5027885
Abstract
Rare earth elements (REEs) exhibit diagnostic absorption features in the visible-near infrared region, enabling their detection and identification via spectroscopic methods. Satellite-based remote sensing mapping of REEs, however, has not been attainable so far due to the necessity for high-quality hyperspectral data to resolve their narrow absorption features. This research leverages EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data to map REEs in Mountain Pass, California—a mining area known to host bastnaesite-Ce ore in sövite and beforsite carbonatites. By employing a polynomial fitting technique to characterize the diagnostic absorption features of Neodymium (Nd) at ∼740 and ∼800 nm, the surface occurrence of Nd was successfully mapped at a 30m pixel resolution. The relative abundance of Nd was represented using the continuum-removed area of the 800 nm feature. The resulting map, highlighting hundreds of anomalous pixels, was validated through laboratory spectroscopy, surface geology, and high-resolution satellite imagery. This study marks a major advancement in REE exploration, demonstrating for the first time, the possibility of directly detecting Nd in geologic environments using the EnMAP hyperspectral satellite data. This capability can offer a fast and cost-effective method for screening Earth’s surfaces for REE signature, complementing the existing exploration portfolio and facilitating the discovery of new resources.