As is well known remote sensing images are used to derive the hydrothermal alteration to delineate potential areas for gold exploration. Yes, indeed other information can be brought to the picture such as gravity, magnetism, IP, structural geology, etc.. My question is: from a practical point of view what is the added value of remote sensing in terms of exploration and there is regardless of limiting the search space for exploration.
From my perspective the strength of remote sensing (e.g. optical, gravity, magnetism) with regards to prospecting for gold is that it provides a quantitative and synoptic picture of the Earth's surface. This makes it possible to use powerful analysis techniques (e.g. SVM, fuzzy logic, neural networks, etc.) that can highlight complex non-linear correlations between these data and potential gold reserves that are otherwise difficult to deduce
In general, remote sensing with use of high-definition images such as exist today, is capable of producing mineral maps by ratings supervised by geologist or mining engineer, where the paragenesis of minerals associates are would highlight the gold ... this is easier in areas devoid of vegetation. There are also plants that are capable of extracting soil minerals associated with gold.
To do so will require the use of a radiometer field to teer spectral signatures of minerals obtained in the field.
The image alone would allow you to explore distance greater amount of area, and supervisadad classification will indicate the types of alteration minerals associated with deposits of gold, but this type of information does not give you laws or volumes of materials to be processed, unless you expect more field data and geochemistry.
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