Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)

The increasing demand for critical raw materials (CRMs), driven by global energy transition, underscores the need for innovative approaches to identify secondary resources, such as mining residues. Mining residues, often overlooked during initial mining activities, now represent valuable sources of...

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Main Authors: Daniela Guglietta, Roberto Salzano, Amina Wafik, Aida M. Conte, Matteo Paciucci, Rosalda Punturo, Rosamaria Salvatori, Giorgio S. Senesi, Carmela Vaccaro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Remote Sensing
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1838
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author Daniela Guglietta
Roberto Salzano
Amina Wafik
Aida M. Conte
Matteo Paciucci
Rosalda Punturo
Rosamaria Salvatori
Giorgio S. Senesi
Carmela Vaccaro
author_facet Daniela Guglietta
Roberto Salzano
Amina Wafik
Aida M. Conte
Matteo Paciucci
Rosalda Punturo
Rosamaria Salvatori
Giorgio S. Senesi
Carmela Vaccaro
author_sort Daniela Guglietta
collection DOAJ
description The increasing demand for critical raw materials (CRMs), driven by global energy transition, underscores the need for innovative approaches to identify secondary resources, such as mining residues. Mining residues, often overlooked during initial mining activities, now represent valuable sources of raw materials thanks to technological advancements, including hyperspectral remote sensing. This study investigates the potential of hyperspectral satellite imagery to detect and map CRMs in mining residues of the abandoned Sidi Bou Azzouz mine in Morocco. The proposed approach is based on the integration between satellite data, field spectroscopy, chemical, and mineralogical analyses in a strong multi-scale and interdisciplinary framework. The integration between advanced laboratory techniques, including LIBS, XRF, XRPD, and SEM-EDS, was employed to enhance hyperspectral data interpretation. The integration of remote sensing and laboratory results provided a comprehensive understanding of mineral composition, confirming the effectiveness of hyperspectral methods for characterizing heterogeneous surface deposits. This research demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral observations to identify valuable raw materials and to map them using PRISMA imagery in abandoned mining residues, offering a tool useful for planning cost-effective and sustainable solutions aimed at answering the growing demand for CRMs crucial to industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth.
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institution Kabale University
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spelling doaj-art-ee7928ca5a2e4dc8a0f21fc84c6a1bed2025-08-20T03:46:42ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-05-011711183810.3390/rs17111838Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)Daniela Guglietta0Roberto Salzano1Amina Wafik2Aida M. Conte3Matteo Paciucci4Rosalda Punturo5Rosamaria Salvatori6Giorgio S. Senesi7Carmela Vaccaro8Institute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, National Research Council, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019 Florence, ItalyAQUABIOTECH Laboratory, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, Cadi Ayyad University, Bd Prince Moulay Abdellah, Marrakech 400000, MoroccoInstitute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Environmental Geology and Geoengineering, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Rome, ItalyInstitute of Polar Sciences, National Research Council, Via Salaria km 29,300, 00015 Rome, ItalyInstitute for Plasma Science and Technology, National Research Council, Via Amendola 122/D, 70126 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Environmental Sciences and Prevention, Università degli Studi di Ferrara, Via Giuseppe Saragat, 1, 44122 Ferrara, ItalyThe increasing demand for critical raw materials (CRMs), driven by global energy transition, underscores the need for innovative approaches to identify secondary resources, such as mining residues. Mining residues, often overlooked during initial mining activities, now represent valuable sources of raw materials thanks to technological advancements, including hyperspectral remote sensing. This study investigates the potential of hyperspectral satellite imagery to detect and map CRMs in mining residues of the abandoned Sidi Bou Azzouz mine in Morocco. The proposed approach is based on the integration between satellite data, field spectroscopy, chemical, and mineralogical analyses in a strong multi-scale and interdisciplinary framework. The integration between advanced laboratory techniques, including LIBS, XRF, XRPD, and SEM-EDS, was employed to enhance hyperspectral data interpretation. The integration of remote sensing and laboratory results provided a comprehensive understanding of mineral composition, confirming the effectiveness of hyperspectral methods for characterizing heterogeneous surface deposits. This research demonstrates the potential of hyperspectral observations to identify valuable raw materials and to map them using PRISMA imagery in abandoned mining residues, offering a tool useful for planning cost-effective and sustainable solutions aimed at answering the growing demand for CRMs crucial to industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1838hyperspectral remote sensingcritical raw materialsspectral mineralogygeochemistrydiffractometryspectroscopy
spellingShingle Daniela Guglietta
Roberto Salzano
Amina Wafik
Aida M. Conte
Matteo Paciucci
Rosalda Punturo
Rosamaria Salvatori
Giorgio S. Senesi
Carmela Vaccaro
Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
Remote Sensing
hyperspectral remote sensing
critical raw materials
spectral mineralogy
geochemistry
diffractometry
spectroscopy
title Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
title_full Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
title_fullStr Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
title_full_unstemmed Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
title_short Hyperspectral Investigation of an Abandoned Waste Mining Site: The Case of Sidi Bou Azzouz (Morocco)
title_sort hyperspectral investigation of an abandoned waste mining site the case of sidi bou azzouz morocco
topic hyperspectral remote sensing
critical raw materials
spectral mineralogy
geochemistry
diffractometry
spectroscopy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/11/1838
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