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Prospectivity Mapping for Epithermal Deposits of Western Milos Using a Fuzzy Multi Criteria Evaluation Approach Parameterized by Airborne Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Data

A Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) approach using a GIS-based weighted linear combination implementation of a Multi-Criteria Evaluation approach utilising a fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process to elucidate expert knowledge has been implemented to analyse the spatial distribution of epithermal deposits on the Island of Milos, Greece and model their association with exploration evidence data with the aim of providing insights into the controls on ore deposition. An integrated field and Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) hyperspectral and thermal multispectral airborne remote sensing dataset supported by field mapping and laboratory analyses, has been utilised to resolve hydrothermal alteration and parameterise the MPM. This study has highlighted the intimate spatial relationship between topographic highs and locations with high grade silicified alteration at a number of locations. The ability of high spatial resolution multispectral Thermal InfraRed (TIR) remote sensing imagery, integrated with topographic data, to resolve these silicified topographic highs provides an additional tool in the exploration of epithermal deposits. The spatial relationships between silicified lithocaps, high-grade altered rocks, faulting and topographic highs were utilised in the development of the MPM model. A close association between the modelled results and the hydrothermal alteration mapped in the field supports the accuracy of this MPM approach.


Introduction
Analysis of the spatial associations of known occurrences of mineral deposits with specific geological features provides insight into the controls on mineral deposit occurrence [1]. Geomorphological features within volcanic terrains provides evidence on both the volcanological and structural evolution and also constrain the potential locations of epithermal mineral deposits [2][3][4][5]. The identification of these geomorphological features in the field is hampered by the large spatial scale, inaccessible terrain and most significantly because of erosion and tectonism which significantly reduces the amount and clarity of surface expressions of these features [6,7]. Remote sensing methodologies offer the potential of accurately mapping the diagnostic mineralogical assemblages of the alteration minerals associated with epithermal deposits at landscape scales [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].

Geological Setting of the Study Area
The island of Milos is located in the southern Aegean Sea and is a recently emergent submarine volcano that exhibits a variety of mineralisation styles [34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. Late Pliocene submarine and late Pleistocene to Holocene subaerial volcanic rocks overlie Mesozoic metamorphic basement and upper Miocene-lower Pliocene marine sedimentary rocks and localized alluvial cover [34][35][36][37][38][39][40]. The volcanic rocks are calc-alkaline with localized high-K variants. They range from basalt to rhyolite in composition but are predominantly andesites and dacites [35]. A major normal, arcuate E-trending fault separates western Milos into two subareas with distinct alteration and mineralisation characteristics with the northern section comprising the Triades-Galana and Kondaros deposits [38,40], (Figure 1). Extensional tectonics have generated a series of horsts and grabens which have produced the dominant structural features of western Milos. They are characterised by a series of steep, NE-trending structures [38]. These structures have localised magmatic-hydrothermal fluid flow producing zones of intense silicification, brecciation and veining [38]. The silicic alteration is made up of fine-grained quartz, TiO 2 polymorphs, and alunite, pyrite and occurs as vuggy-and massive-silica types. The hydrothermal alteration and associated mineralisation are spatially related to N30 • E-and E-trending faults and occurs as multi-stage breccia zones and quartz-barite-galana veins or stockworks. They crosscut earlier formed quartz-sericite-kaolinite and quartz-kaolinite altered breccia fragments with barite, kaolinite, sericite, adularia and quartz as associated gangue minerals [38,40]. The nature of the alteration is characterised by laterally and vertically gradation from NE-trending silicic outcrops into advanced argillic, argillic, propylitic alteration and fresh rock. The mineralogy of the advanced argillic zones is characterised by alunite, quartz, chalcedony, opal-CT, kaolinite, halite, diaspore, pyrite, chalcendony and jarosite [38][39][40]. The main occurrence of argillic alteration, characterised by illite, kaolinite, smectite and sericite, is marginal to the main centres of advanced argillic alteration with some outcrops located in fault zones [38,40]. The study area has high relief, ranging from 0 to 748 m, is devoid of settlements, excellent rock exposure, and a very dry and stable climate with very little vegetation cover making it ideal for remote sensing based geological mapping.
Mersinia area is characterized by leached silica caps (including spongy porous rock with chalcedony after opal, massive silica and subordinate vuggy quartz), which constituted the flank of an important volcanic edifice [38]. A Zn-Pb-Ag±Cu±Mn vein type mineralisation containing base metal sulphides is present at Kondaros [38]. The metallic mineralogical assemblage at Kondaros-Katsimouti includes mainly galena and sphalerite and minor pyrite and silver is present in the form of Ag-(Cd)-rich tetrahedrite and polybasite [42].

Hydrothermal Alteration
The location and nature of hydrothermal alteration was resolved using field mapping and remote sensing methods, with supporting geochemical and petrological analyses, and secondary data from previous studies.

Field Mapping with Supporting XRD and Petrological Analyses
A mapping study was completed in May 2010. The distribution of alteration zones and silicified lithocaps was produced by field-based mapping supported by XRD analyses [38], Figure 2. A representative set of field spectra and hand specimens were collected ( Figure 3) and studied using XRD and petrological analyses (Table 1). XRD analyses were undertaken in the laboratories of the British Geological Survey using a PANalytical X'Pert Pro diffractometer. Software for interpretation was the PANalytical X'Pert Highscore Plus coupled with the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) database. The mineralisation at Triades-Galana is a Pb-Zn-Ag deposit located along NE trending faults, the authors of [38][39][40] hosted in pyroclastic rocks and is genetically associated to andesitic/dacitic lava domes ( [38][39][40] Figures 1 and 2). The mineralisation is associated with these flow domes which display alteration ranging from argillic (kaolinite-sericite) to in advanced argillic or silicic alteration. In the Galana area, alteration grades from phyllic (quartz-sericite-pyrite) upwards towards Mersinia-Kondaros into advanced argillic alteration which includes minor massive to vuggy zones of silica. Kaolinite is generally more common in the advanced argillic alteration mineralisation in the Triades-Galana and Kondaros areas whereas phyllic alteration, characterised by sericite, quartz and pyrite is restricted to the area around Triades-Galana. The Zn-Pb-(Ag) deposits at Triades and neighbouring Galana were mined initially for lead and zinc, and later for silver [41]. The minerals at Triades includes galena and sphalerite and were deposited in multiple stages [34]. The Kondaros-Mersinia area is characterized by leached silica caps (including spongy porous rock with chalcedony after opal, massive silica and subordinate vuggy quartz), which constituted the flank of an important volcanic edifice [38]. A Zn-Pb-Ag±Cu±Mn vein type mineralisation containing base metal sulphides is present at Kondaros [38]. The metallic mineralogical assemblage at Kondaros-Katsimouti includes mainly galena and sphalerite and minor pyrite and silver is present in the form of Ag-(Cd)-rich tetrahedrite and polybasite [42].

Hydrothermal Alteration
The location and nature of hydrothermal alteration was resolved using field mapping and remote sensing methods, with supporting geochemical and petrological analyses, and secondary data from previous studies.

Field Mapping with Supporting XRD and Petrological Analyses
A mapping study was completed in May 2010. The distribution of alteration zones and silicified lithocaps was produced by field-based mapping supported by XRD analyses [38], Figure 2. A representative set of field spectra and hand specimens were collected ( Figure 3) and studied using XRD and petrological analyses (Table 1). XRD analyses were undertaken in the laboratories of the British Geological Survey using a PANalytical X'Pert Pro diffractometer. Software for interpretation was the PANalytical X'Pert Highscore Plus coupled with the International Centre for Diffraction Data (ICDD) database. Red and green pixels represent silicified and advanced argillic hydrothermal alteration respectively as identified from the Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) TIR and Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) data respectively. Location of faulting, silicified lithocaps were identified by [38] and major breccia bodies by [34].
(a) (b) Red and green pixels represent silicified and advanced argillic hydrothermal alteration respectively as identified from the Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) TIR and Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) data respectively. Location of faulting, silicified lithocaps were identified by [38] and major breccia bodies by [34]. Red and green pixels represent silicified and advanced argillic hydrothermal alteration respectively as identified from the Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) TIR and Short Wave InfraRed (SWIR) data respectively. Location of faulting, silicified lithocaps were identified by [38] and major breccia bodies by [34].   An Analytical Spectral Devices (ASD) FieldSpec Pro FR spectroradiometer was used to acquire field spectra of outcrops representative of the alteration zones. The ASD covers the 0.35-2.5 µm wave range with a sampling resolution of 1.4 nm at 0.35-1.0 µm and 2 nm at 1.0-2.5 µm with full width half maximum (FWHM) spectral resolutions: 6 nm on average at VNIR and 11 nm at SWIR wavelengths. Reflectance values were calculated using a Spectralon white reference panel. The effect of compositional heterogeneity on sample spectra was assessed by taking spectra evenly spaced, using a grid sampling approach, across sample surfaces. Emission spectra of a representative set of field samples were acquired in the laboratory using a TELOPS TM Fourier Transform InfraRed spectrometer (FTIR). The samples were heated to 70 • C and the effect of background longwave radiation was measured using a gold plate.

Digital Airborne Imaging Spectrometer (DAIS) Airborne Remote Sensing Dataset
DAIS is a 79-channel sensor [43] which covers the range from 0.4 to 14 µm with six channels covering the thermal infrared region ( Table 2). The DAIS imagery was acquired at an altitude of 3050 m above ground level giving a spatial resolution of 5 m at nadir [43].

DAIS Data Processing
The VNIR and SWIR DAIS data was atmospherically corrected using the empirical line technique utilising ground spectra acquired coincident with the airborne data acquisition [44]. The DAIS data has a moderate signal-to-noise performance [43] which means that a purely modelling based approach to atmospheric correction can often produce relatively noisy spectra which can adversely affect subsequent spectral analysis and matching algorithms [44]. The Empirical Line Technique (ELT), if implemented correctly, has the capability of removing both atmospheric and systematic instrument noise from the hyperspectral imagery which can often produce imagery with significantly better signal-to-noise ratios than modelling, particularly in areas with relatively low topographic variability [44]. In this study an excellent set of large, homogenous field targets with different albedos were available within the study providing an ideal dataset for successful implementation of the ELT. Spatial mapping and abundance estimates for specific alteration zones were carried out using the Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) technique, implemented in ENVI 5.1 TM , on the SWIR [45][46][47] data. MTMF performs a matched filtering (MF) of multispectral images which minimises the response of background materials by projecting each pixel vector onto a subspace, which is orthogonal to the background spectra, and then maximises the response of the endmembers of interest by comparing the residual pixels to each of the reference spectra. The MTMF spectral matching approach can utilise a range of input spectral profile sources either field, library or spectral endmembers derived from the imagery [45][46][47]. In this study there were abundant locations throughout the study area where large areas of altered rocks were exposed providing an excellent set of ground spectra representative of the different alteration zones. This field spectral library was used in the MTMF-based spectral mapping.
The processing of the DAIS TIR data involved two stages. The first stage was atmospheric correction using the ATCOR-4 atmospheric correction software [48]. ATCOR-4 provides a highly accurate correction of thermal wave range data incorporating variations in elevation in the calculation on a per-pixel basis [48]. ATCOR-4 requires the specification of column water vapour concentration and visibility in order to parameterise the atmospheric model. A standard continental summer MODTRAN atmospheric model [48] was selected as being very similar to the atmospheric conditions on Milos at the time of the data acquisition. The second stage of processing was the separation of the temperature-emissivity components from the TIR data. The emissivity alpha residuals technique implemented in ENVI 5.1 TM [49] was utilised to carry out the temperature-emissivity separation because of its accuracy and scene-independent nature of the processed data [50]. To resolve the locations with the highest degree of silicified alteration the very strong quartz emission minima was utilised (Figure 4a). A ratio of DAIS TIR bands (74 + 75)/(78 + 79) was calculated. Bands 74 and 75 extend across the emission minimum of quartz which gives locations with a higher level of silicification a lower ratio value (Figure 4b).

Lithology and Structures
For prospectivity mapping, epiclastic aprons associated with andesitic-dacitic lava domes were considered favourable for epithermal mineralisation [34,[38][39][40][41][42]. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and a slope layer were generated from a 1:50,000 contour map. The slope and contour layers were used with cross-sectional analysis to resolve the location and dimension of topographic highs. The mineralisation and associated hydrothermal alteration are spatially related to N30 • E-and E-trending faults [38]. In epithermal systems, areas of structural weakness can act as pathways of hydrothermal fluids. The nature and extent of this relationship varies markedly between deposits however there are a number of distinct structural, geomorphological and morphological settings which are highly conducive to the formation of epithermal deposits [51][52][53][54][55][56].
the Advanced Argillic Zone Hydrothermal Alteration: pixels classified as silicified lithocaps 4 Within pixel None

Analysis of Field Spectral and Laboratory Spectral Emissivity Datasets
Field spectra representative of the alteration zones and unaltered rocks convolved to the DAIS SWIR band waveranges are shown in Figure 3. The spectral resolution of the DAIS imagery is sufficient to resolve the diagnostic absorption features of the minerals characteristic of the silic (quartz), advanced argillic (kaolinite, alunite) and argillic (kaolinite, smectite) alteration zones. Emission spectra of quartz-rich samples from Milos show emission minima near 8.40 and 8.95 µm separated by a sharp emission maximum at 8.63 µm (Figure 4a).   (Table 1). (b) Emission spectra from Milos (shown in Figure 4a) and related emission spectra from the JPL library [57] resampled to the DAIS TIR bandwidths.
These laboratory spectra, and also emission spectra from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spectral library [57], when convolved to the DAIS sensor wavelengths demonstrate their capability to differentiate quartz-rich rocks (Figure 4b). The JPL library was selected because of its extensive range of emission spectra with compositions related to the samples under study. Alunite and Kaolinite have second-order emission features. Alunite exhibits a minimum around 9.9 µm while Kaolinite has multiple absorption features at 9.0, 9.68, 9.92 and 10.95 µm [57][58][59].

Analysis of DAIS Datasets
The results of the MTMF analysis of the SWIR imagery and the silica index derived from the TIR data are shown in Figure 2 with higher values representing good matches [32][33][34]. Pixels corresponding to the highest degree of match for each class were transferred digitally to the aerial photography mosaic with red and green pixels representing silicified and advanced argillic alteration, respectively. Pixels that are not colour-coded are unclassified. To investigate the spatial and topographic relationship of the alteration zones mapped from the DAIS SWIR and TIR datasets  (Table 1) Figure 4a) and related emission spectra from the JPL library [57] resampled to the DAIS TIR bandwidths.

MPM Implementation
A fuzzy AHP approach was used to elicit knowledge on the distances and the relative importance (weighting) of the spatial associations of epithermal mineralization with topography, faulting, advanced argillic hydrothermal alteration, silicified lithocaps and volcanic centres (VC). A WLC MCE approach was used to map prospectivity for epithermal deposits on the island of Milos, Greece. Table 3 shows the relative importance and weights, spatial influences and distances and type of fuzzy function associated with the geological criteria for epithermal deposits in west-central Milos. The highest weight was assigned to the hydrothermal alteration associated with the lithocaps, the advanced argillic alteration and the faults were assigned less weighting and the topographic highs and the Volcanic Centres were assigned the lowest weightings. The consistency ration (CR) is < 0.1 which indicates a good consistency of the judgements used for the comparison. The analysis of the spatial influences for the five criteria produced new spatial layers which were multiplied according to their assigned weighting ( Table 3). The hydrothermal alteration layers, comprising only the higher grade advanced argillic and silicified (lithocaps) layers was also multiplied by the assigned weighting and added to the other weighted layers producing the final MPM model result.

Analysis of Field Spectral and Laboratory Spectral Emissivity Datasets
Field spectra representative of the alteration zones and unaltered rocks convolved to the DAIS SWIR band waveranges are shown in Figure 3. The spectral resolution of the DAIS imagery is sufficient to resolve the diagnostic absorption features of the minerals characteristic of the silic (quartz), advanced argillic (kaolinite, alunite) and argillic (kaolinite, smectite) alteration zones. Emission spectra of quartz-rich samples from Milos show emission minima near 8.40 and 8.95 µm separated by a sharp emission maximum at 8.63 µm (Figure 4a).
These laboratory spectra, and also emission spectra from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spectral library [57], when convolved to the DAIS sensor wavelengths demonstrate their capability to differentiate quartz-rich rocks (Figure 4b). The JPL library was selected because of its extensive range of emission spectra with compositions related to the samples under study. Alunite and Kaolinite have second-order emission features. Alunite exhibits a minimum around 9.9 µm while Kaolinite has multiple absorption features at 9.0, 9.68, 9.92 and 10.95 µm [57][58][59].

Analysis of DAIS Datasets
The results of the MTMF analysis of the SWIR imagery and the silica index derived from the TIR data are shown in Figure 2 with higher values representing good matches [32][33][34]. Pixels corresponding to the highest degree of match for each class were transferred digitally to the aerial photography mosaic with red and green pixels representing silicified and advanced argillic alteration, respectively. Pixels that are not colour-coded are unclassified. To investigate the spatial and topographic relationship of the alteration zones mapped from the DAIS SWIR and TIR datasets cross-sections across the Triades-Galana and Kondaros hydrothermal alteration zones with the MTMF analysis were plotted with topography ( Figures 5 and 6). At Kondaros a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified sinter again shows a clear topographic high associated with the outcrop of the silicified lithocaps ( Figure 5). cross-sections across the Triades-Galana and Kondaros hydrothermal alteration zones with the MTMF analysis were plotted with topography ( Figures 5 and 6). At Kondaros a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified sinter again shows a clear topographic high associated with the outcrop of the silicified lithocaps ( Figure 5). The results of the DAIS TIR based mapping of the silicified lithocaps were highly correlated to the results of the field mapping carried out by [30]. To validate the accuracy of the lithocap mapping by [38] the authors mapped the outcrops at Kondaros assisted by a Differential Global Positioning System (Figure 5b). While the outcrop of the silica lithocaps resolved by the authors was generally similar to that mapped by [38] the outcrops were generally composed of a number of smaller, more discrete outcrops, with a mean size of 20 × 40 m 2 compared to larger areas (120 × 200 m 2 ) mapped by [38].
At Triades-Galana ( Figure 6) a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified breccia outcrops shows a number of distinct topopgraphic highs where the silificied rock outcrops and with the close lateral association with advanced argillic and argillic alteration zones

Results of the MPM Modelling
The results of the MPM modelling displayed on the DEM (Figure 7) demonstrate the intimate relationship between alteration, mineralisation, topography and faulting. The locations identified as having the highest potential for mineralisation are found within the andesitic-dacitic lava domes, closely associated with the east/northeast trending faulting and generally forming clearly identifiable topographic highs. The results of the MPM modelling overlain by the field mapped alteration zones cross-sections across the Triades-Galana and Kondaros hydrothermal alteration zones with the MTMF analysis were plotted with topography ( Figures 5 and 6). At Kondaros a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified sinter again shows a clear topographic high associated with the outcrop of the silicified lithocaps ( Figure 5). The results of the DAIS TIR based mapping of the silicified lithocaps were highly correlated to the results of the field mapping carried out by [30]. To validate the accuracy of the lithocap mapping by [38] the authors mapped the outcrops at Kondaros assisted by a Differential Global Positioning System (Figure 5b). While the outcrop of the silica lithocaps resolved by the authors was generally similar to that mapped by [38] the outcrops were generally composed of a number of smaller, more discrete outcrops, with a mean size of 20 × 40 m 2 compared to larger areas (120 × 200 m 2 ) mapped by [38].
At Triades-Galana ( Figure 6) a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified breccia outcrops shows a number of distinct topopgraphic highs where the silificied rock outcrops and with the close lateral association with advanced argillic and argillic alteration zones

Results of the MPM Modelling
The results of the MPM modelling displayed on the DEM (Figure 7) demonstrate the intimate relationship between alteration, mineralisation, topography and faulting. The locations identified as having the highest potential for mineralisation are found within the andesitic-dacitic lava domes, closely associated with the east/northeast trending faulting and generally forming clearly identifiable topographic highs. The results of the MPM modelling overlain by the field mapped alteration zones The results of the DAIS TIR based mapping of the silicified lithocaps were highly correlated to the results of the field mapping carried out by [30]. To validate the accuracy of the lithocap mapping by [38] the authors mapped the outcrops at Kondaros assisted by a Differential Global Positioning System (Figure 5b). While the outcrop of the silica lithocaps resolved by the authors was generally similar to that mapped by [38] the outcrops were generally composed of a number of smaller, more discrete outcrops, with a mean size of 20 × 40 m 2 compared to larger areas (120 × 200 m 2 ) mapped by [38].
At Triades-Galana ( Figure 6) a transect southwest to northeast across the silicified breccia outcrops shows a number of distinct topopgraphic highs where the silificied rock outcrops and with the close lateral association with advanced argillic and argillic alteration zones.

Results of the MPM Modelling
The results of the MPM modelling displayed on the DEM (Figure 7) demonstrate the intimate relationship between alteration, mineralisation, topography and faulting. The locations identified as having the highest potential for mineralisation are found within the andesitic-dacitic lava domes, closely associated with the east/northeast trending faulting and generally forming clearly identifiable topographic highs. The results of the MPM modelling overlain by the field mapped alteration zones ( Figure 8) show that the highest potential mineralisation zones are located with the mapped advanced argillic and silicified zones supporting the accuracy of the prospectivity modelling.

Utility of High Spatial and Spectral Remote Sensing based Hydrothermal Mapping
There have been a large number of studies that have demonstrated the potential of SWIR and thermal remote sensing data to map the highest grade alteration associated and thus mineral

Utility of High Spatial and Spectral Remote Sensing based Hydrothermal Mapping
There have been a large number of studies that have demonstrated the potential of SWIR and thermal remote sensing data to map the highest grade alteration associated and thus mineral prospectivity associated with epithermal deposits [1,[8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][59][60][61]. A significant limitation has been the spatial resolution of the only widely available multi-spectral thermal wave range sensor, ASTER, which with a 90 × 90 m 2 pixel covers an area of 8100 m 2 . On Milos, the size of the silicified lithocaps range from 20 × 20 to 100 × 150 m 2 . Additionally the outcrop of these lithocaps is generally made of smaller, discrete patches rather than one large outcrop. The high spatial and spectral resolution of the DAIS TIR data, 5 × 5 m 2 , enabled even the smallest outcrop of silicified rock to be differentiated from the country rocks. The hyperspectral characteristics of the DAIS SWIR imagery was also a significant advantage in mapping the hydrothermal alteration zones as the higher grade advanced argillic outcrops could be clearly identified by the direct identification of alunite and kaolinite concentrations from the DAIS imagery on a pixel-by-pixel basis. The intimate spatial association with silicified lithocaps and localised topographic highs has been recognised by many researchers e.g., [1,5]. The high spatial resolution DAIS imagery enables direct integration with topography as demonstrated at Triades-Galana and Kondaros providing enhanced identification of mineral prospectivity.

Potential of Fuzzy Multi Criteria Evaluation MPM of Epithermal Deposits
The MPM modelling has identified a number of discrete spatial locations of high potential for mineral prospectivity around Triades-Galana and Kondaros and a number of areas on the northern and southern margins of the study area (Figure 7). Triades-Galana and the area on the southern margin have already been mined for a variety of metallic and high-grade clay minerals which supports the validity of the modelling results.
Overlaying the map of hydrothermal alteration produced by field-based mapping [38] onto the MPM results ( Figure 8) shows that the highest locations for mineral prospectivity are all located in the argillic, advanced argillic and silicified alteration zones. The fuzzy multi criteria evaluation method implemented in this study provides a straightforward approach to integrating a wide range of spatial datasets and producing a quantitative output, however, there are a number of issues that can affect the quality of the output modelling. The results are critically dependent on a range of factors including the determination of spatial threshold distances, the criterion weights in the weighted linear combination, the use of a linear transformation and decision risk [62].

Conclusions
Prospectivity for epithermal deposits was mapped successfully in the western part of the Island of Milos using airborne remote sensing data and applying a GIS-based weighted linear combination implementation of a MCE approach.
The use of DAIS airborne data, calibrated and validated using ground spectra, demonstrated the potential of high spatial and spectral resolution remote sensing datasets to identify the diagnostic mineral assemblages representative of the different alteration zones. The utility of high spatial resolution TIR wave range remote sensing data in mapping epithermal deposits was clearly shown. The ability to map out lithocaps at a spatial resolution sufficient to allow integration with high spatial resolution topographic data enabled a clear spatial association between localized topographic highs, characteristic of lava domes and the silicified lithocaps. The high spatial and spectral resolution DAIS SWIR data allowed accurate detection of the mineralogy diagnostic of the alteration zones and also identification of the intimate spatial and vertical relationships between volcanological-related geomorphological features and the altered rocks.
The results of the MPM could be improved by: (a) inclusion of other data layers, such as geochemistry and geophysics that were not used in this study; (b) implementation of a multi-scenario modelling approach which would allow the sensitivity of the model results to variation in the key criteria to be quantitatively assessed and (c) more detailed understanding of the influence of the faulting on the spatial distribution of hydrothermal alteration.
Author Contributions: G.F., A.G. and A.J.M. carried out the fieldwork on Milos. G.F. processed and analysed the airborne and field remote sensing datasets. G.F. implemented the spatial modelling approach. G.F. Produced the original draft, A.G., R.P. and A.J.M. assisted in the production of the figures and assisted in the review and editing of the manuscript.
Funding: This research was funded by Natural Environment Research Council: GA/09F/139-RMS E3557.