The method of detection of clay minerals and iron oxide based on Landsat multispectral images (as exemplified in the territory of Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam)

Landsat multispectral images have been successfully used for discovering some mineral deposits in different regions of the world. Some minerals, including clay minerals and iron oxide, can be detected by multispectral surveys due to their spectral characteristics. This paper presents the results of the application of principal component analysis and Crosta technique for detecting accumulations of clay minerals and iron oxide based on a Landsat 8 Oli multispectral image of Thai Nguyen Province, north of Vietnam. The obtained results have demonstrated the feasibility and suitability of prompt detecting mineral deposits based on the remote sensing data. The image processing methods and facilities tested in this study can be used to create maps of distribution of clay minerals and iron oxide for effective and expedient prospecting and exploration for minerals.