Tracing Hidden Mineral Deposits: How Hyperspectral Imaging Makes Rocks "Speak"

在(zài)甘(gān)肅(sù)柳園的戈(gē)壁(bì)深處，一支地質勘探(tàn)隊(duì)正麵(miàn)臨(lín)著挑戰(zhàn)：如(rú)何(hé)在(zài)綿延(yán)數百平方公(gōng)裏(lǐ)的裸(luǒ)露岩(yán)層中，精準鎖(suǒ)定銅礦(kuàng)的(dí)蛛絲馬跡(jì)？十(shí)年前(qián)，這(zhè)樣的(dí)任務(wù)需(xū)要(yào)地質(zhì)隊員背(bèi)著(zhuó)地(dì)質(zhì)錘和(hé)羅(luó)盤(pán)，頂(dǐng)著(zhuó)烈日(rì)徒步(bù)數(shù)月，用肉(ròu)眼(yǎn)辨識(shí)岩石顏色(sè)的(dí)微(wēi)妙差(chà)異。而(ér)今(jīn)天(tiān)，他(tā)們隻(zhī)需(xū)放飛(fēi)一架搭(dā)載高(gāo)光譜成(chéng)像儀的無(wú)人機(jī)——隨著(zhuó)鏡(jìng)頭掃過蒼(cāng)茫大(dà)地，岩石(shí)的“光譜(pǔ)指(zhǐ)紋"在(zài)屏幕上(shàng)躍(yuè)動，隱(yǐn)藏(cáng)的銅(tóng)礦脈絡(luò)如同被施了魔(mó)法般(bān)浮(fú)現。

這雙(shuāng)穿(chuān)透(tòu)地表的(dí)“光譜之眼"，正是高(gāo)光譜成(chéng)像技(jì)術。它不(bù)僅(jǐn)能看(kàn)清人眼無法(fǎ)捕(bǔ)捉的(dí)礦物(wù)光譜特(tè)征，甚至(zhì)能通(tōng)過(guò)岩(yán)石(shí)的細微反(fǎn)光(guāng)差異，破解(jiě)地球億萬年的地質(zhì)密碼。

Deep in the Gobi Desert of Liuyuan, Gansu, a geological exploration team faces an unprecedented challenge: how can they accurately pinpoint traces of copper ore across hundreds of square kilometers of exposed rock formations? A decade ago, such a task would have required geologists to carry rock hammers and compasses, trekking for months under the scorching sun, relying on the naked eye to detect subtle variations in rock coloration. Today, they simply launch a drone equipped with a hyperspectral imager. As the sensor scans the vast terrain, the "spectral fingerprints" of the rocks flicker across the screen, and hidden copper veins emerge as if by magic.

This "spectral eye" that penetrates the Earth's surface is hyperspectral imaging technology. It not only captures mineral spectral characteristics invisible to the human eye but also deciphers billions of years of geological history through subtle differences in rock reflectance.

對(duì)現(xiàn)場采(cǎi)集的36個樣(yàng)品（左一(yī)）在(zài)實驗室進(jìn)行了高(gāo)光(guāng)譜和傳統(tǒng)方(fāng)法的(dí)分(fēn)析和表征。根據常(cháng)見(jiàn)的地(dì)球(qiú)化學數據(jù)對(duì)樣品(pǐn)進(jìn)行(háng)聚類(lèi)，並自(zì)動識別(bié)樣(yàng)本(běn)（左(zuǒ)二）。光譜(pǔ)圖利(lì)用聚(jù)類(lèi)材料(liào)的反射率建立（右一(yī)）

A total of 36 field-collected samples (left) were analyzed and characterized in the laboratory using both hyperspectral and traditional methods. Samples were clustered based on common geochemical data, with automated sample identification performed (second from left). Spectral graphs were constructed using the reflectance of clustered materials (right).  

高光譜(pǔ)成像(xiàng)儀(yí)的核心能力(lì)，源(yuán)於它驚(jīng)人的“視覺靈(líng)敏度"。以(yǐ)愛博能(néng)提供的(dí)HY-1710係列為例(lì)，其光(guāng)譜(pǔ)範(fàn)圍覆蓋(gài)400-2500nm，相(xiāng)當(dāng)於(yú)同(tóng)時捕捉可見光
，近(jìn)紅外和短波(bō)紅外的共(gòng)460個(gè)波(bō)段。這(zhè)就像給相機(jī)裝(zhuāng)上了(liǎo)460層濾光片(piàn)，每(měi)一(yī)層(céng)都能捕獲特(tè)定礦物的(dí)獨特(tè)“光波密(mì)碼(mǎ)"——比(bǐ)如(rú)高(gāo)嶺石在(zài)2200nm附近(jìn)的(dí)吸收峰。

The core capability of hyperspectral imaging lies in its remarkable "visual sensitivity." Take the HY-1710 series as an example: its spectral range covers 400–2500 nm, capturing 460 bands across visible, near-infrared, and short-wave infrared wavelengths. It is as if the camera is equipped with 460 layers of filters, each capable of detecting the unique "light-wave signature" of specific minerals—such as the absorption peak of kaolinite near 2200 nm.

矽卡岩(yán)礦床(chuáng)中常見蝕(shí)變礦物光(guāng)譜(pǔ)曲(qū)綫 / Spectral Curves of Common Alteration Minerals in Skarn Deposits

在(zài)甘(gān)肅(sù)華(huá)牛山(shān)多金屬(shǔ)礦(kuàng)區，某團隊(duì)使用高(gāo)光(guāng)譜成像(xiàng)儀對(duì)裸(luǒ)露(lòu)岩層進(jìn)行遙感(gǎn)檢(jiǎn)測(cè)，旨在(zài)尋找新的(dí)礦藏資源。通過高光譜技術(shù)，他(tā)們(mén)對(duì)岩(yán)石(shí)進(jìn)行(háng)分(fēn)類(lèi)和映射，在廣闊(kuò)的(dí)區域(yù)內快速(sù)識別出(chū)鉛(qiān)礦
，鋅(xīn)礦(kuàng)等礦(kuàng)物。此(cǐ)外，團隊運用了高效的(dí)圖像處理方(fāng)法(fǎ)，提(tí)升了(liǎo)礦(kuàng)數(shù)據(jù)信息(xī)的(dí)提取精度，尤(yóu)其是在鉛鋅(xīn)礦(kuàng)體方麵獲得了(liǎo)81%的礦物識別率。這使得他(tā)們成(chéng)功繪製出礦(kuàng)物(wù)分類(lèi)圖(tú)，並(bìng)識別出了該地區的重(zhòng)要礦(kuàng)藏。

華牛(niú)山礦(kuàng)區(qū)經歷了多(duō)次(cì)地(dì)質(zhì)演變，形成了(liǎo)復雜的構(gòu)造特征和多(duō)樣的礦(kuàng)藏類型，通(tōng)過(guò)高(gāo)光譜(pǔ)技術，團隊(duì)不(bù)僅(jǐn)為資源的(dí)探(tàn)索提供(gōng)了(liǎo)科學(xué)依(yī)據，也(yě)為今後(hòu)的礦(kuàng)藏開(kāi)發和(hé)地(dì)質研究奠定了(liǎo)堅(jiān)實的(dí)基礎。這種“從地表(biǎo)透(tòu)視(shì)地(dì)殼(ké)運(yùn)動(dòng)"的能(néng)力，讓高光(guāng)譜(pǔ)成(chéng)像成為(wéi)新(xīn)一輪找(zhǎo)礦突(tū)破戰略行(háng)動(dòng)的(dí)核心技(jì)術(shù)。

In the Huaniushan polymetallic mining area of Gansu, a team used hyperspectral imaging to conduct remote sensing detection of exposed rock formations, aiming to discover new mineral resources. Through hyperspectral technology, they classified and mapped rocks, rapidly identifying minerals such as lead and zinc ores across extensive areas. Moreover, the team employed efficient image processing methods to enhance the accuracy of mineral data extraction, achieving an 81% mineral recognition rate for lead-zinc ore bodies. This enabled them to successfully generate mineral classification maps and identify significant deposits in the region.

The Huaniushan mining area has undergone multiple phases of geological evolution, resulting in complex structural features and diverse mineral deposit types. By applying hyperspectral technology, the team not only provided a scientific basis for resource exploration but also laid a solid foundation for future mineral development and geological research. This ability to "see through surface features to interpret crustal movements" has made hyperspectral imaging a core technology in the new strategic action for mineral exploration breakthroughs.

研(yán)究團隊(duì)繪(huì)製的(dí)華(huá)牛(niú)山(shān)礦物分(fēn)布(bù)圖(tú) / Mineral Distribution Map of Huaniushan Produced by the Research Team

2024年，中國(guó)地質(zhì)調查局西安礦產中心(xīn)聯(lián)合航空(kōng)物探遙(yáo)感中心和資源所，共同申報(bào)的基於國產(chǎn)高光(guāng)譜數據(jù)找礦遠景(jǐng)區快(kuài)速(sù)圈(quān)定技術，已(yǐ)成功(gōng)入(rù)選中國(guó)地(dì)質調(tiáo)查局正式印發(fā)的《新(xīn)一輪(lún)找礦突(tū)破(pò)戰略行動先進(jìn)適(shì)用(yòng)勘(kān)查(chá)技術清(qīng)單（第一批）》。更值(zhí)得(dé)一提的是，我(wǒ)國高(gāo)分(fēn)五(wǔ)號(hào)衛星的高光譜載荷，已(yǐ)實(shí)現90%以上的礦物識別(bié)準確(què)率(shuài)，該團隊更獲(huò)得了2024年(nián)度中(zhōng)國(guó)科學院傑(jié)出科學(xué)成就(jiù)獎。

In 2024, the Xi’an Mineral Resources Center under the China Geological Survey, in collaboration with the Aerogeophysical Survey and Remote Sensing Center and the Institute of Mineral Resources, successfully developed a rapid prospect delineation technology based on domestically produced hyperspectral data. This achievement was included in the *List of Advanced and Applicable Exploration Technologies for the New Strategic Action for Mineral Exploration Breakthroughs (First Batch)* officially issued by the China Geological Survey. It is also worth highlighting that the hyperspectral payload onboard China’s Gaofen-5 satellite has achieved over 90% accuracy in mineral identification. The team behind this effort was awarded the 2024 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Prize by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

由(yóu)西安(ān)礦(kuàng)產中心發布的(dí)東(dōng)天山(shān)-北山(shān)成礦帶(dài)高光譜遙感(gǎn)礦(kuàng)物分布(bù)圖

Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Mineral Distribution Map of the East Tianshan-Beishan Metallogenic Belt (Released by the Xi’an Mineral Resources Center)

從戈壁(bì)荒漠到深(shēn)海礦藏，高光譜(pǔ)成像正在重(zhòng)寫人類探(tàn)索(suǒ)地球(qiú)的方式(shì)。它不僅是(shì)技(jì)術(shù)的(dí)革新(xīn)，更(gēng)是一(yī)種認知(zhī)的革(gé)命——當我們(mén)學會傾(qīng)聽岩(yán)石的光譜語言，那(nà)些(xiē)沉(chén)睡(shuì)億(yì)萬(wàn)年的礦藏終將(jiāng)揭開麵(miàn)紗(shā)，為(wéi)文(wén)明(míng)續寫(xiě)新的(dí)能源(yuán)篇章。

From desert wilderness to deep-sea mineral resources, hyperspectral imaging is reshaping how humanity explores the Earth. It is not only a technological revolution but also a cognitive one—by learning to interpret the spectral language of rocks, we are unveiling mineral deposits that have slumbered for billions of years, paving the way for a new chapter in energy resources and civilizational progress.

案(àn)例(lì)來(lái)源(yuán) / Sources：

1. 葉彬,王(wáng)加昇(shēng),李金龍,付浩.高光(guāng)譜(pǔ)遙感技術在地(dì)質(zhì)勘查中的應(yīng)用(yòng)現(xiàn)狀(zhuàng)及(jí)展望[J].化(huà)工(gōng)礦(kuàng)物與(yǔ)加(jiā)工(gōng),2024,53(11):77-88

2. Wan, Yq., Fan, Yh. & Jin, Ms. Application of hyperspectral remote sensing for supplementary investigation of polymetallic deposits in Huaniushan ore region, northwestern China. Sci Rep 11, 440 (2021)

3. 李士(shì)傑，何(hé)海洋，秦昊洋(yáng)，孫(sūn)旭(xù)，王思(sī)琪(qí)，劉小玉. 中(zhōng)國地質(zhì)調查局西(xī)安礦(kuàng)產資(zī)源(yuán)調查中心(xīn). 東天山(shān)-北山成(chéng)礦帶高光譜礦(kuàng)物填(tián)圖數據集(jí). 2024,09

4. 基於國(guó)產高光譜數據找(zhǎo)礦(kuàng)遠景區快速圈(quān)定技術(shù)入選《新一輪(lún)找(zhǎo)礦突破(pò)戰(zhàn)略(lüè)行(háng)動先進適(shì)用勘查(chá)技(jì)術清單（第一批）》

5. 董(dǒng)新(xīn)豐,甘(gān)甫平,李(lǐ)娜(nà),閆柏琨(kūn),張(zhāng)磊,趙佳(jiā)琪(qí),於(yú)峻(jùn)川,劉鎔源,馬燕妮.2020.高(gāo)分五號(hào)高光譜影像礦物精(jīng)細識別.遙(yáo)感學(xué)報,24(4): 454-464