US-Namibia Cooperative Research: Potential of Hyperspectral Remote Sensing for Geological Mapping and Resource Evaluation in Arid Regions When Used in the Damaran Terrane

0080679Duke &amp； paterson该奖项支持博士之间为期三年的合作研究项目。南达科他州矿业与技术学院地质与地质工程系的爱德华·杜克（Edward Duke）和科林·帕特森（Colin Paterson）博士。纳米比亚地质调查局的Volker Petzel和Herbert Roesener。该项目还将包括一名美国研究生和一名纳米比亚研究生的参与。南达科他州矿业与技术学院一直在开发基于现场和遥感的光谱方法，用于绘制变质矿物分布和组成的变化。虽然这些方法目前只适用于植被覆盖最少的地区，但它们仍然为在世界上研究不足的地区进行地质过程的基础研究提供了前所未有的机会。利用最先进的卫星、机载和地面遥感技术和仪器，结合实地研究，调查人员将绘制纳米比亚达马兰地体部分地区矿物学、变质条件和流体流动的变化图。由于植被覆盖极少，这个地形为各种岩石类型提供了绝佳的暴露机会。变质条件广泛，热液矿床较多。该项目结合了美国研究人员在岩石学、矿床和地质遥感应用方面的专业知识，以及纳米比亚研究人员对其区域地质学和矿床的知识。该项目补充了纳米比亚地质调查局绘制达马兰地层学和地质年代学地图的工作。预计项目结果将查明可能查明新矿物资源的地质环境，并将用来编制一个关于纳米比亚矿物资源的数据库。这些结果有望为造山带的地质和矿床提供重要的新信息，从而提高我们对地球系统的理解和认识。此外，该项目将有助于建立一个重要的科学和后勤框架，利用新的高光谱传感器来评估撒哈拉以南非洲的自然资源。国际项目司和地球科学司共同为这个项目提供资金。

0080679Duke & PatersonThis award supports a three-year collaborative research project among Drs. Edward Duke and Colin Paterson, of the Department of Geology and Geological Engineering at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and Drs. Volker Petzel and Herbert Roesener, of the Geological Survey of Namibia. The project will also include the participation of a US graduate student and a Namibian graduate student.The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology has been developing field-based and remotely-sensed spectroscopic methods for mapping variations in the distribution and composition of metamorphic minerals. While the methods are currently only suitable for use in areas with minimal vegetative cover, they still provide an unprecedented opportunity to conduct basic research on geological processes in understudied parts of the world. Using state-of-the-art satellite, airborne, and ground-based remote sensing techniques and instrumentation in combination with field-based studies, the investigators will map variations in mineralogy, metamorphic conditions, and fluid flow in parts of the Damaran terrane in Namibia. Because of its minimal vegetative cover, this terrane provides excellent exposure of a variety of rock types. It also has a wide range of metamorphic conditions and many hydrothermal ore deposits. The project combines the US researchers' expertise in petrology, mineral deposits, and geological remote sensing applications, with the Namibian investigators' knowledge about their regional geology and ore deposits. This project complements the work of the Geological Survey of Namibia to map the Damaran stratigraphy and geochronology. The project results are expected to identify the geological environment in which new mineral resources may be identified, and they will be used to develop a database for mineral occurrences in Namibia. These results are expected to provide significant new information on the geology and ore deposits of the orogenic belt, thereby advancing our understanding and knowledge about Earth's system. Additionally, this project will help establish an important scientific and logistical framework for utilizing the new hyperspectral sensors to evaluate natural resources in Subsaharan Africa.The Division of International Programs and the Division of Earth Sciences are jointly providing funding for this project.