Remote Sensing Technologies for Rare Metal Deposits in Kazakhstan

This study explores remote sensing methods for locating rare earth and rare metal deposits in Kazakhstan, a country with abundant rare element resources. The focus is on modern remote sensing technologies for identifying geological objects and highlighting prospective areas for exploration. These methods can significantly reduce exploration costs by narrowing down target areas before conducting fieldwork.

Kazakhstan holds more than half of the world’s tungsten reserves and ranks fourth globally in molybdenum. The country has substantial potential to expand its rare earth and rare metal industries through both dedicated deposits and associated elements in other mineral bodies.

Kazakhstan’s deposits are classified into the following types:

• Pegmatite deposits
• Albitite deposits (albite granites)
• Skarn-greisen deposits
• Greisen-quartz vein deposits
• Greisen-stockwork deposits
• Porphyry deposits
• Weathering crust deposits
• Placer deposits

Deposits with associated rare elements include porphyry, stratified, and hydrogenic types.

We applied various remote sensing methods to identify specific types of deposits. In the Kalbinsky area, spectral index calculations revealed zones of metasomatism. In the Verkhne Espinskoye deposit, different processing techniques identified alkaline granites, stockwork bodies, and structural elements. For the Karakamskoye deposit, remote sensing detected pegmatite bodies and metasomatism zones. At Zhetygorinskoye, texture analysis revealed hidden structures, and principal component analysis identified pegmatites. The Minimum Noise Fraction method pinpointed hydrothermally altered areas.

Satellite data processing helped distinguish intrusive complexes, host rocks, and structural features. RS methods successfully separated different geological facies and highlighted metasomatism zones.

The results demonstrate that remote sensing technologies are highly effective in Kazakhstan. In this presentation, we will present a comparison of the effectiveness of these methods, showing how they enhance exploration accuracy while reducing costs. By remotely detecting key geological features before fieldwork, remote sensing minimises unnecessary expenses and maximises resource utilisation. The application of modern remote sensing tools contributes to more efficient exploration and better resource management in the country’s mining industry.