APPLICATION OF SIR-C DATA FOR EXPLORATION OF MINERALIZEDD ZONES (HWANGGANG-Rl, KOREA)

This paper investigated and evaluated the NASA's Shuttle Imaging Radar-C (SIR-C) multiple frequency SAR data for differential backscattering effects of microwave from the surface geological materials overlying the skarn type mineralization. Although an integrated approach in mineral exploration is more cost effective and is well in use, there are still many technical and scientific issues to be further investigated and researched. In this study we have reprocessed several sets of previously surveyed exploration data and experimented with fuzzy logic digital fusion of the preprocessed data with respect to chosen exploration targets. Among the numerous fuzzy logic operators, which are currently available for a data driven integrated exploration strategy, we used varying combinations of fuzzy MIN, fuzzy MAX, and fuzzy SUM operators along with Gamma operator for fusion of exploration data, including the contact metamorphic zone information. The final exploration target tested was a skarn type W-Mo-F mineralization in the study area. The fuzzy logic derived mineral potential anomaly almost exactly matched the differential backscattering anomalies on the C-band and L-band SIR_C data when overlaid on each other. Although this high degree of correlation between these two data sets is remarkable, the differential backscattering anomaly over the skarn type W-Mo-F mineralization in the study area requires further investigation.