Application of high altitude and ground-based spectroradiometry to mapping hazardous low-pH material derived from the Sokolov open-pit mine

Abstract : Mineral spectroradiometry, both from airborne/spaceborne sensors and ground measurements, represents an alternative to conventional methods and an efficient way to characterize mines and assess the potential for acid mine drainage (AMD) discharge. High-altitude spectroradiometry (advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer [ASTER] satellite data) together with ground- and laboratory-based spectroradiometry (ASD Filedspec spectroradiometer) were employed in order to identify the locations of the most significant sources of AMD discharge at the Sokolov lignite open-pit mines, Czech Republic. As a result, a map with delineated low-pH zones was created and validated using the ground truth data.