Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia

The Granites-Tanami Orogen (GTO) is a significant auriferous province located in the poorly exposed southwestern part of the North Australian Craton. This paper looks at the data sources that are suited to studying regolith-landform in areas such as the Tanami Region. One of the most useful datasets...

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Main Author: Richard Llewellyn Langford
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Earth Science, Systems and Society
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Online Access:https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2024.10111
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author Richard Llewellyn Langford
author_facet Richard Llewellyn Langford
author_sort Richard Llewellyn Langford
collection DOAJ
description The Granites-Tanami Orogen (GTO) is a significant auriferous province located in the poorly exposed southwestern part of the North Australian Craton. This paper looks at the data sources that are suited to studying regolith-landform in areas such as the Tanami Region. One of the most useful datasets for regional regolith-landform mapping is a digital elevation model (DEM). The DEM data that were reviewed demonstrated the utility of TanDEM over other sources, and quantitative results focused on these data for identifying regolith-landform patterns that would aid in geochemical sampling and other land use studies. This paper will demonstrate that neither the classical approach of mapping boundaries based on visual estimates of breaks in slope, nor the alternative approach of producing maps and models derived from algorithms, can be used in isolation. Visual estimates of many boundaries are complex, unreliable and time consuming, and algorithmic mapping is driven by parameters than can produce an infinite set of models. This paper shows that simple landform visualisation is often the most powerful tool for map and model creation, supported by geomorphometric analysis and remotely sensed spectral imagery. The use of TanDEM data is shown to produce the best regolith-landform maps and models of the Tanami Region, which can then improve mineral exploration success.
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spelling doaj-art-fcfd523943894bde8250e8e25f6678482025-01-10T14:04:55ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Earth Science, Systems and Society2634-730X2024-12-014110.3389/esss.2024.10111Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, AustraliaRichard Llewellyn Langford0Consultant, Viana do Castelo, PortugalThe Granites-Tanami Orogen (GTO) is a significant auriferous province located in the poorly exposed southwestern part of the North Australian Craton. This paper looks at the data sources that are suited to studying regolith-landform in areas such as the Tanami Region. One of the most useful datasets for regional regolith-landform mapping is a digital elevation model (DEM). The DEM data that were reviewed demonstrated the utility of TanDEM over other sources, and quantitative results focused on these data for identifying regolith-landform patterns that would aid in geochemical sampling and other land use studies. This paper will demonstrate that neither the classical approach of mapping boundaries based on visual estimates of breaks in slope, nor the alternative approach of producing maps and models derived from algorithms, can be used in isolation. Visual estimates of many boundaries are complex, unreliable and time consuming, and algorithmic mapping is driven by parameters than can produce an infinite set of models. This paper shows that simple landform visualisation is often the most powerful tool for map and model creation, supported by geomorphometric analysis and remotely sensed spectral imagery. The use of TanDEM data is shown to produce the best regolith-landform maps and models of the Tanami Region, which can then improve mineral exploration success.https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2024.10111spaceborne radarradar imagingdigital elevation modelsremote sensinggeomorphometryregolith-landform
spellingShingle Richard Llewellyn Langford
Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
Earth Science, Systems and Society
spaceborne radar
radar imaging
digital elevation models
remote sensing
geomorphometry
regolith-landform
title Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
title_full Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
title_fullStr Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
title_full_unstemmed Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
title_short Geochemical Pathways Defined by Predictive Regolith-Landform Models Using TanDEM-X Data in the Tanami Region, Australia
title_sort geochemical pathways defined by predictive regolith landform models using tandem x data in the tanami region australia
topic spaceborne radar
radar imaging
digital elevation models
remote sensing
geomorphometry
regolith-landform
url https://www.lyellcollection.org/doi/10.3389/esss.2024.10111
work_keys_str_mv AT richardllewellynlangford geochemicalpathwaysdefinedbypredictiveregolithlandformmodelsusingtandemxdatainthetanamiregionaustralia