Prospecting future bauxite resources using AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral imaging: insights from Modigarh Village, Chhatarpur District, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

The study integrates multispectral ASTER and high-resolution AVIRIS-NG hyperspectral data to identify bauxite-rich pockets within the lateritic terrain of Modigarh village, Chhatarpur district, Madhya Pradesh, India. ASTER L1B data were employed to delineate lateritic zones and lithological contact areas using Relative Band Depth (RBD) indices for gibbsite and laterite. To enhance mineral discrimination, AVIRIS-NG data were pre-processed through bad band removal and NDVI masking, followed by spectral analysis techniques including band math, RBD mapping, and Linear Spectral Unmixing (LSU). Spectral signatures of gibbsite, boehmite, kaolinite, and hematite were identified by comparison with USGS reference spectra, field spectroradiometry, and laboratory data. False Color Composites, RBD images, and LSU-derived abundance maps effectively delineated bauxite-bearing zones. These remote sensing outputs were validated through petrographic studies revealing oolitic and pisolitic textures, and by XRF, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy confirming the mineralogical composition. The study highlights the effectiveness of combining spaceborne and airborne remote sensing technologies for high-resolution surface mapping of bauxite, offering a replicable methodology for similar lateritic terrains globally. This integrated approach supports efficient, non-invasive mineral exploration strategies and can significantly aid global bauxite resource assessments in tropical and sub-tropical regions.