The Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping Test Data Set
Authors: Laukamp Carsten , Haest Maarten , Cudahy Thomas 
Published: March 2021

Abstract. The integration of surface and subsurface geoscience data is critical for
efficient and effective mineral exploration and mining. Publicly accessible
data sets to evaluate the various geoscience analytical tools and their
effectiveness for characterisation of mineral assemblages and lithologies or
discrimination of ore from waste are however scarce. The open-access Rocklea
Dome 3D Mineral Mapping Test Data Set (Laukamp, 2020;
https://doi.org/10.25919/5ed83bf55be6a) provides an opportunity for
evaluating proximal and remote sensing data, validated and calibrated by
independent geochemical and mineralogical analyses, for exploration of
channel iron deposits (CIDs) through cover. We present hyperspectral
airborne, surface, and drill core reflectance spectra collected in the
visible–near-infrared and shortwave infrared wavelength ranges (VNIR–SWIR;
350 to 2500 nm), as well as whole-rock geochemistry obtained by means of
X-ray fluorescence analysis and loss-on-ignition measurements of drill core
samples. The integration of surface with subsurface hyperspectral data collected in
the frame of previously published Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral Mapping case
studies demonstrated that about 30 % of exploration drill holes were sunk
into barren ground and could have been of better use, located elsewhere, if
airborne hyperspectral imagery had been consulted for drill hole planning.
The remote mapping of transported Tertiary detritals (i.e. potential hosts
of channel iron ore resources) versus weathered in situ Archaean bedrock
(i.e. barren ground) has significant implications for other areas where
“cover” (i.e. regolith and/or sediments covering bedrock hosting mineral
deposits) hinders mineral exploration. Hyperspectral remote sensing
represents a cost-effective method for regolith landform mapping required
for planning drilling programmes. In the Rocklea Dome area, vegetation
unmixing methods applied to airborne hyperspectral data, integrated with
subsurface data, resulted in seamless mapping of ore zones from the
weathered surface to the base of the CID – a concept that can be applied to
other mineral exploration and mineral deposit studies. Furthermore, the
associated, independent calibration data allowed the quantification of iron oxide
phases and associated mineralogy from hyperspectral data. Using the Rocklea
Dome data set, novel geostatistical clustering methods were applied to the
drill core data sets for ore body domaining that introduced scientific
rigour to a traditionally subjective procedure, resulting in reproducible
objective domains that are critical for the mining process. Beyond the previously published case studies, the Rocklea Dome 3D Mineral
Mapping Test Data Set has the potential to develop new methods for advanced
resource characterisation and develop new applications that aid exploration
for mineral deposits through cover. The white mica and
chlorite abundance maps derived from airborne hyperspectral, presented here for the first time, highlight the
additional applications of remote sensing for geological mapping and could
help to evaluate newly launched hyper- and multispectral spaceborne systems
for geoscience and mineral exploration.