This Division of Earth Sciences Instrumentation and Facilities Program grant support acquistion of a portable hyperspectral camera system (near infrared) to support research and education at UH. The instruments will augment other digital geologic mapping tools (TLS) at the University of Houston. The instrument will support research and research training that would benefit from the capability to spectroscopically characterize geologic outcrops in support of neotectonic studies with the goals of mapping the distribution of melt channels beneath ancient mid-ocean rides (from ophiolite studies), developing 3D fluid flow models, understanding rock alterations and sulphide mineralization. The requested systems will complement an extant Terrestrial Laser Scanner for studies of fundamental geological processes, natural hazard mitigation and energy resource exploration and processes for TLS and hyperspectral data fusion will be developed. The instrument will serve graduate students and post-doctoral researchers working with the PIs and other faculty at UH and support undergraduate eduction through incorporation into a geology field camps offered by the University of Houston at Yellowstone Bighorn Research Alliance (YBRA) site in Red Lodge, Montana. UH is is a minority serving institution.
***
Funds for this project were used to acquire portable hyperspectral camera system for use in science and to educate the next generation of Earth Scientists in combining field hyperspectral imaging with traditional geologic mapping. This newly acquired system was tested on eight (8) outcrops in Oklahoma, Texas and Utah and was also used for scanning five (5) iconic ophiolite outcrops in Oman. Below is summary of some of our initial findings; Hyperspctral cameras were used to map heterolithic thin-bedded facies of the distal delta front in Utah. Facies at this location are locally highly variable, ranging from mudstone to interbedded planar-bedded to hummocky cross-stratified sandstone as well as heterolithic facies deposited within storm-influenced, river-dominated delta fronts. Coupling ground-based remote sensing technologies with traditional geological techniques provided continuous maps of grain size and lithology, as well as calibration of depositional gradients. Previous studies approximated these features using more traditional field methods, such as linear interpolation between measured sections (control points). The rapid data collection possible with ground-based hyperspectral and LiDAR allows more efficient and more complete reservoir characterization data sets to be obtained, especially in thin-bedded reservoir analogs that lack reservoir characterization studies. Vertical cliffs of incised valleys within the Turonian Ferron Notom Delta in South-Central Utah were scanned. Our preliminary results identified series of laterally accreting and vertically accreting tidally influenced channels that are exposed in a series of strike and dip aligned exposures. These geological surfaces including finer features such as mud drapes, that are as small as a few millimeters in thickness are draped over 3-D outcrop model. These virtual 3-d outcrop models can be used in reservoir modeling, and are expected to increase understanding of reservoir heterogeneity- and its effect on fluid flow- of existing subsurface fields as it can capture the geometry of small scale features. To test the possibility of an accurate quantitative remote geochemical analysis at outcrop scale by detection of key elemental and mineralogical spectral signatures, ground-based hyperspectral camera systems were sued on altered and unaltered outcrops of the Wingate Sandstone. The Wingate Sandstone has uniform composition and appearance over Colorado Plateau except isolated bleached localities. Previous researchers described various surface alterations where anomalous mineralogical and weathering patterns have been observed. These surficial alterations are assumed to be caused by the migrating hydrocarbons seeping from underlying reservoirs. Surface alterations observed in the Wingate Sandstone have been remotely mapped by previous researchers at regional scale; however, any outcrop scale study has not been conducted. Close-range hyperspectral imaging system providing detailed geochemical information. Spectral signatures of characteristic mineral assemblages associated with hydrocarbon microseepage are used for mapping surficial rock alterations at outcrop scale. This study is expected to model diagenetic heterogeneities and spatial distribution pattern of surface alterations caused by hydrocarbons on 3D outcrop geometry that will provide distinctive information on fluid flow processes. These tools were also used to study the effects of hydrocarbons on overlying rocks, soils and vegetation in Cement oilfield, Oklahoma. Samples of rocks, soils and vegetation inside and outside the oilfield were collected for spectral analysis and hyperspectral data were collected in one location which is known to have hydrocarbon seepages. Early this year, five (5) iconic outcrops of Oman ophiolite were scanned. University of Houston group was accompanied by students and scientists from Cardiff University and British Geological Survey. Currently we are processing the data and will submit a proposal to NSF-EAR for further work on Oman ophiolite.
