Reflectance Spectra with Mineral Absorption Features from Outcrops of Canadian Shield Rocks in the Andrew Lake and Leland Lakes Area, Northeastern Alberta (tabular data, tab-delimited format)

This dataset presents 523 spectral signatures, each detailed with absorption features—specific wavelengths at which minerals absorb light—collected using a handheld spectrometer (350 nm to 2500 nm) on outcrops of Canadian Shield rocks in the Andrew Lake and Leland Lakes area in northeastern Alberta. These absorption features are critical for identifying mineral compositions and  provide insight into the unique properties of each mineral, such as crystallinity and composition. The dataset showcases a spectrum of mineral absorption features, including aluminum-iron-magnesium (Al-Fe-Mg), aluminum-hydroxide (Al-OH), chlorite spectral maturity (CSM), iron mineral intensity (Fe3i), iron mineral type (Fe3t), illite spectral maturity (ISM), kaolinite (Kx), iron-hydroxide (Fe-OH), and magnesium hydroxide (Mg-OH), with geographic coordinates for precise localization of the mineral outcrops. The mineral absorption feature dataset is accompanied by the spectral signature dataset in ASCII format for ENVI software compatibility. This collection  can aid in the identification of minerals and the interpretation of geological processes. Notably, ninety-three percent of endmembers within a 20-metre radius of rocks with elevated concentrations of cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), praseodymium (Pr), lithium (Li), uranium (U), and thorium (Th)—as determined by whole-rock geochemical analysis—display four or more distinct absorption features. These are predominantly associated with primary lithologies such as gneiss, granitoid, mylonite, and diatexite, offering insights into the geological and mineralogical context of this area of the Canadian Shield.
This work was completed under the Mineral Grant provided by the Government of Alberta dated June 22, 2021.