Petrogenesis of the mineralized granitic intrusion near Los Santos, Western Spain, and remote sensing and data integration as a tool in regional exploration for granite related mineralization

Abstract

Ground based metal exploration is labour intensive and thus expensive. Data acquisition by satellite and aircraft, and subsequent image processing seem to offer a cheaper and attractive strategy to replace some of this effort, notably in the screening phase of a new project. However, realizing this promise requires considerably more than an image processing system and some satellite data. A vital component is a calibration area with known mineralization where the geology is sufficiently well known to permit a sound interpretation of the remote sensing data. This thesis studies the interpretation of remote sensing and data integration in regional exploration for granite related mineralization in central Western Spain. The calibration area is located in the Vicinity of the Los santos tungsten skarn, at the N.W. Margin of the Hercynian central System Batholith.