Pinpointing the desert of the Ruoqiang County, Western China

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates how satellite imagery analysis can identify man-made textures in deserts, revealing geophysical survey results and potential mineral deposits, thus aiding economic exploration.

Contribution

It introduces a method of using satellite images to detect geophysical survey signatures indicative of mineral deposits in desert regions.

Findings

Identification of a large nickel ore deposit through satellite imagery

Detection of man-made textures over 8 km in desert soil

Potential for satellite-based mineral exploration

Abstract

A man-made texture on the desert soil of a county of the Western China is visible in satellite images, more than 8 kilometers long and 50 meters wide. This seems to be the result of a detailed geophysical survey of the region that led to the discovery of a large nickel ore. Therefore, the analysis of the satellite imagery, performed to find such textures created by the sampling of soils, can help anticipating information on the economical potentialities of a site.