LAND OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY SPACE

Satellite images offer a wide variety of applications in the field of Earth Sciences, e.g. geological and geomorphological mapping, hydrogeology, mineral exploration, monitoring of mining activity, engineering geology, environmental geology, geohazards, etc. The methodology for extracting the geological and geomorphological information, which is the basic requisite in applied geological and developmental projects, is well established over the years. ISRO has worked in collaboration with many Central & State Government organisations to prepare geological databases and on different geological applications of remote sensing data. Today, a good number of case studies and the capacity to use space technology are available with many of the organisations related to the discipline of geology and mining.

Currently, the geologists are focusing their efforts towards exploring the potential of hyperspectral, thermal and microwave remote sensing data in identification and mapping of minerals and other features of geological interest. Geospatial modelling of remote sensing, geophysical, and ground-based observations is another area of current interest.

· Basic geological inputs at varied scales for diverse applications

· National Mission on Geomorphological & Lineament Mapping

· Geological inputs for National Ground Water Prospects Mapping project

· Geological inputs for Landslide Hazard Zonation in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand along important tourist and pilgrimage route corridors

· Mineral targeting using remote sensing and geospatial modeling for selected areas

· Geo-environmental impact assessment of mining, including mapping & monitoring of mine fires and land subsidence

· Feasibility studies for potential hydropower sites, road, rail & tunnel alignment

· Airborne geophysical surveys for mineral & hydrocarbon exploration (Partner Institutions: GSI, ONGC, DGH, AMD)

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

MAJOR BENEFITS

· Baseline geological information to support applied geological investigations and impact assessment in mining areas

www.isro.gov.in Indian Space Research Organisation

Geomorphological map of a part of Uttarakhand prepared using satellite imagery. This map is prepared in a national mission on ‘Geomorphological and Lineament

Mapping’, jointly coordinated by ISRO and Geological Survey of India (GSI) in association with State Remote Sensing Centres. Geomorphology and Lineament

information is vital for various geoscientific applications and is available on Bhuvan geoportal (http://bhuvan.nrsc.gov.in/).

GEOLOGY & MINING

Structural Origin-Highly Dissected Hills and ValleysStructural Origin-Moderately Dissected Hills and ValleysFluvial Origin-Younger Alluvial PlainFluvial Origin-Older Flood PlainFluvial Origin-Active Flood PlainFluvial Origin-Piedmont Alluvial Plain

Water Body

Anthropogenic Origin-AnthropogenicTerrain

OPERATIONAL PRODUCTS / SERVICES RESEARCH / FUTURE AREAS

· Geomorphological and lineament maps of the country on 1:50,000 scale

· Geological input for site suitability analysis of Engineering Projects like hydroelectric power plants, tunneling, etc.

· Typical reflectance spectra of rocks and minerals for some of the important geological provinces of the country

· Mineral Information System for important mineral deposits and web-based Mining Information System for selected mines

· Remote sensing-based geoenvironmental monitoring of opencast mining

· Satellite-based mining induced land subsidence detection at high precision

· Upgradation of geological database using microwave SAR data and high-resolution topographic information

· Upgradation & operationalisation of Mineral & Mining Information Systems to cover the entire country

· Information extraction from multi-sensor satellite data and geospatial modeling

· Innovative tools and approaches for discovery of new mineral deposits

· Spatio-temporal dynamics & impacts of mining including mining-induced land subsidence measurement & modeling

· Geodynamics of Himalaya & active tectonics studies

LAND OCEAN ATMOSPHERE ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY SPACE

GEOLOGY & MINING

www.isro.gov.in Indian Space Research Organisation

Limestone conc.

Red: Iron ore mineYellow: Overburden

< 10 cm/year10-20 cm/year20-40 cm/year

Dhanbad

Limestone prospecting by spectral separation technique (Kolhan, Jharkhand)

Spectral separation of iron ore mines from overburden (Part of Odisha)

Land subsidence areas in Jharia Coalfield during 2003-2007 using microwave SAR data & radar interferometry technique which can be used to prevent future roof collapse (Partner Agencies:

Coal India Ltd., CSIR & Survey of India)

Reconnaissance geological mapping based on Resourcesat multispectral imagery and field observations for site suitability of Shahganj Barrage (Partner Agency: Narmada

Hydroelectric Development Corporation Ltd.)

Detailed ground profiling locationRecommended Rail AlignmentProposed Tunnel

Lineament – minorLineament – majorFault – inferred

Rail alignment along Akola– Amlakhurd Section, Maharashtra (Partner Agency:

South-Central Railway)

2 Upper Kaimur Sandstone

3 Lower Rewa Sandstone

4 Jhiri Shale

5 Upper Rewa Sandstone

8 Lower Bhander Sandstone

10 Compound to simple & ‘Aa’ basaltic lava flow

15 Calcareous sand, silt, clay, gravel & conglomerate

16 Calcified silt, sand & gravel

17 Non-calcareous silt, sand & gravel

25 Gravel & sand

26 Sand & silty sand

27 Sandy silt, silt, clay, gravel & conglomerate

28 Silt & silty sand, gravel & conglomerate

29 Non-calcareous silty sand & clay

31 Calcareous sand, silt, c & gravel

50 Settlements

95 Water body