Lithological mapping using ASTER and magnetic data: A case study from Zhalute area, China

Abstract

Like most spectral remote sensing data, ASTER images reflect different spectral information of surface objects, and ground-based magnetic data reflect magnetic information from the surface and from rocks at depth. In this study, a magnetic image was first generated and then combined with ASTER spectral bands to provide multispectral data. The minimum distance and maximum likelihood methods were used to classify lithology mapping in the Zhalute area. Classification results show that, individually, spectral and magnetic data have advantages for some aspects of lithological mapping but the integrated spectrum-magnetic data improved overall accuracy. This study shows that the integrated use of ASTER data and magnetic data has useful applications for the field of lithological mapping.