Iron-bearing minerals are foundational to industries such as construction, automotive, aerospace, and electronics, among others. Their accurate identification and mapping are therefore crucial for resource exploration and management. In this study, we utilized WorldView-2 and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery to detect these minerals based on their distinctive spectral signatures, specifically within the 645 to 675 nm range, often referred to as the "visible absorption edge." To validate the accuracy of our detections, we compared the identified iron-bearing mineral locations with existing geological maps using an object-based approach. Our findings underscore the efficacy of satellite imagery in facilitating precise mineral mapping.
This digital data release provides a vector dataset of locations of potential iron-bearing mineral deposits, which is categorized into two classes: 1 - WorldView-2 detections, and 2 - Sentinel-2 detections (in areas where WordView-2 imagery was not available).
Chowdhury, S. and Kelly, S.A. (2023): Detection of exposed iron anomalies in the Clear Hills region, northwestern Alberta, derived from WorldView-2 and Sentinel-2 multispectral imagery (GIS data, point and polygon features); Alberta Energy Regulator / Alberta Geological Survey, AER/AGS Digital Data 2023-0028.