Airborne and spaceborne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) integration with Landsat TM and gamma ray spectrometry for geological mapping in a tropical rainforest environment, the Carajas Mineral Province, Brazil

Abstract

Abstract This research focuses on the integration of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) (C-HH airborne, JERS-1, ERS-1) with Landsat TM and airborne gamma ray (total count, uranium, and thorium) data for geological mapping in Carajas Province, Brazil. The area is related to an Archean shear belt, with metasediments, metavolcanics, gneisses, and granulites. Anorogenic granites with Middle Proterozoic ages are scattered throughout the study area. The vegetation is typical of tropical upland rain forest. Radar and Landsat TM produce enhanced images closely related to geobotanical associations. Radar and gamma channels show the relationships between terrain morphology and bedrock radioactivity, good indicators of structures, lithological units, rock types, and hydrothermal metasomatism processes. The research emphasizes the practical importance of using SAR integrated products for geological mapping in the Amazon Region when airborne geophysical data are available.