LITHOLOGIC MAPPING IN THE SILURIAN HILLS, CALIFORNIA, USING ADVANCED SPACEBORNE THERMAL EMISSION AND REFLECTION RADIOMETER (ASTER) DATA

Multispectral satellite image processing techniques can effectively discriminate between the lithologies of arid regions. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection and Radiometer (ASTER) imagery, which contains bands from the visible, near infrared, shortwave infrared and thermal bands, is processed to delineate and enhance the spectral characteristics of lithologies comprising the Silurian Hills, California. These images are processed using band combination techniques and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). A lithologic classification is produced from the resultant images, using the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) classification, and Maximum Likelihood classification tools in ENVI 5.3. Each classification is compared to a geologic map and assessed for accuracy. The SAM classification resulted in an overall accuracy of 72.6597% and the Maximum Likelihood classification resulted in an overall accuracy of 92.2467%. This supports the effectiveness of this method for remote classification of the Pahrump Group and Riggs Formation of the Mojave province.