Integrated study of geospatial and geochemical techniques for mineral targeting in parts of Bundelkhand Craton in Jhansi District, U.P. (India)

This article presents the integrated use of high-resolution satellite remote sensing, GIS, GPS, and geochemical analysis-based observations for mineral targeting in Baragaon area in Jhansi District of Uttar Pradesh in parts of Bundelkhand Craton in Central India. Digital image processing techniques of principal component (PC) transformation have been applied to IRS-P6 LISS-IV satellite data to extract drastic and subtle changes in the disposition, shape, and pattern of the landforms to identify the geomorphic anomalies. PC images have conspicuously highlighted the intersections of lineaments that have been demarcated as structural anomalies. On PC-3 images the geomorphic anomalies have been identified by semicircular to oval-shaped hills in Baragaon area and small circular and elongated hills in the west of Kuraicha. Structural anomalies identified in the area include the intersections of NW–SE and NE-SW trending lineaments in Baragaon, Bukhara, etc. The XRF analysis of rock samples from a geomorphic and structural anomaly zone (with visible host rocks) near Baragaon area has indicated the presence of iron-oxide bearing minerals with 42.13% Fe₂O₃. This study demonstrates that integrated use of geospatial and geochemical techniques can help in quickly zeroing in on the geomorphic and structural anomalies in an area of suitable host rocks. The present approach to mineral targeting helps reduce the area for detailed field investigations particularly in the hinterlands of the country and is time saving and economical.