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Predictive GIS Modeling from Landsat, AGRS, Aeromagnetic and Ground Surveys for Uranium Exploration—A Case Study from Sonakhan Block, Chhattisgarh, India

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Abstract

The Meso to Neo Proterozoic Chhattisgarh Basin in Bastar craton of Central India has an analogues geological setting to that of Athabasca Basin and is well known for several uranium occurrences. Present study discusses generation and validation of a geological model for uranium exploration by integrating geological, geochemical, geophysical and remote sensing datasets along the south central margin of Chhattisgarh Basin. The area exposes volcano-sedimentary sequence of Sonakhan Group unconformably overlain by sediments of Chhattisgarh Supergroup. A knowledge driven integrated Geographical Information Systems (GIS) model has been simulated for uranium exploration by extracting and integrating exploration relevant information viz., heat source, metal source, transport pathways, traps etc. from the spatial datasets. Landsat ETM+ imageries are utilised for delineating alteration zones and lineaments. Airborne radiometric data facilitated in mapping alteration and uranium enriched zones from the anomalous ratios of K/Th and U/Th. Major lineaments, intrusive and lithological units were interpreted utilising aeromagnetic data. These data sets are interpreted in the light of available lithological and structural information from ground surveys. A uranium potential model has been developed by choosing deposit recognition criterion which is defined based on specific characteristics associated with a specific type of mineral deposit. Mappable recognition criterions such as favorable lithology, associated alteration, proximal intrusives and extrusives, favorable structural domain and suitable traps for deposition are delineated from spatial datasets as thematic vector layers. Spatial analysis on the recognition criterion thematic layers has been carried out in GIS environment using index overlay method to generate predictive model. The generated maps highlighted the targets with high exploration potential for uranium. These targets identified by the exercise are ground checked and the predictive model is validated.

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Acknowledgments

The authors sincerely thank Shri. P S Parihar, Director, AMD for his encouragement and permission to publish the paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, Department of Atomic Energy, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 500016, India

    M. Sridhar, V. Ramesh Babu, A. K. Chaturvedi & M. K. Roy

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  1. M. Sridhar
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  2. V. Ramesh Babu
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  3. A. K. Chaturvedi
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Correspondence to M. Sridhar.

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Sridhar, M., Babu, V.R., Chaturvedi, A.K. et al. Predictive GIS Modeling from Landsat, AGRS, Aeromagnetic and Ground Surveys for Uranium Exploration—A Case Study from Sonakhan Block, Chhattisgarh, India. J Indian Soc Remote Sens 43, 347–362 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12524-014-0389-1

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