Waste quantities, which were left over after smelting, have a wide spread distribution and threaten soils, vegetation, and above all human health. The analysis of the spectral behavior of mine wastes using reflectance spectroscopy is an alternative approach to traditional methods. It provides information about targets between visible and near-infrared and shortwave infrared (SWIR) (400 to 2500 nm) wavelengths. The spectral behavior of soils in the SWIR region using hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy supported by ground-truth-based x-ray diffraction is analyzed, and the performance of the continuum removal (CR) method for carbonate mineral (XCO3) content estimation around mine wastes is examined. The method has been used to correlate spectral absorption band centered at 2338 nm with calcium carbonate calcite (CaCO3) concentrations in the presence of different carbonate minerals, dolomite (CaMgCO3), cerusite (PbCO3), within soil samples. The method was carried out on hyperspectral reflectance measurements collected around the mine site of Jebel Ressas in the North of Tunisia. The results show that the performance of the CR method is dependent on the spectral feature of carbonate minerals. Particularly, the CR2338 nm was found to be interesting for carbonate content prediction in presence of calcium carbonate.
The geologic context of the north of Tunisia is favorable to varied mining activities. Wastes quantities which were left over after smelting have a wide spread distribution. These immense quantities threaten soils, vegetation and above all human health. Reflectance spectroscopy provides information about targets between visible (VIS) and shortwave infrared (SWIR) (300–2500 nm) wavelengths. As mine wastes constitute a mixture of minerals, the analysis of the spectral behavior of mine wastes using reflectance spectroscopy is an alternative approach to traditional methods. Signatures resulting from measures reflectance are quantified according to the ratio between reflected energy and incident energy on a defined target. Mine wastes analysis by means of reflectance spectroscopy with respect to laboratory analysis have provided favorable results in detecting and mapping transformation processes in environmental systems, particularly in arid and semiarid climates. In this study we analyze the spectral behavior of mine wastes in the VIS and SWIR regions using hyperspectral reflectance spectroscopy supported by ground-truth based X ray diffraction XRD. Wastes samples collected in the field were measured in situ in order to determine their spectral reflectance properties. The wastes spectral signatures were normalized and compared to laboratory results. This study was performed in the environs of Jebel Ressas mine in the north of Tunisia which is considered as pilot site.
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