ASTER capability in mapping of mineral resources of arid region: A review on mapping of mineral resources of the Sultanate of Oman

Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER)has exclusive capability to map minerals and ore deposits, and able to discriminate rock types useful for geological applications. Especially, the improved spectral and spatial resolutions of spectral bands of the sensor are well utilized by the exploration geologists working on arid region where the surface deposits are directly exposed to the sensor without disturbances of the vegetation. Several, fruitful research studies have been carried out to map mineral resources in arid region with inaccessible rugged mountains and deserts area, where it is difficult to do conventional geological mapping. These were demonstrated and documented in the scientific publications using the ASTER spectral bands and image processing methods. This study reviews scientific literatures published on mapping of the economic mineral resources of the Sultanate of Oman using ASTER and simples image processing methods.