Enhanced Landsat Imagery for Geological Mapping in Yukon

Digitally enhanced Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery from September 1986 was evaluated for geological mapping in the Wheaton River District. The imagery covers a 45 km by 45 km area and was processed to enhance lineaments and alteration zones. Government of Yukon researchers used it to map geological features at scales between 1:250,000 and 1:50,000.

Use Cases

• Detecting geological lineaments based on digitally enhanced satellite imagery
• Mapping iron oxide alteration zones based on spectral information
• Identifying unmapped fractures and faults based on edge-enhanced images
• Conducting reconnaissance geological mapping at a 1:250,000 scale
• Supporting detailed field investigations at a 1:50,000 scale

Strengths

• Imagery covers a specific 45 km by 45 km area centred on the Wheaton District
• Data was processed for two distinct mapping scales: 1:250,000 and 1:50,000
• Three unmapped and potentially significant lineaments were identified using the imagery

Limitations

• The imagery was not useful for identifying or differentiating lithologic units
• Information was lost in shadows due to extreme topography and low sun angle
• Attempts at identifying hydrothermally altered rocks failed

Provenance

Source

Government of Yukon | Gouvernement du Yukon

Collection Method

Digitally processed Landsat TM data acquired on September 1986, combined with geological field mapping.

Time Range

September 1986

Freshness

Last updated 2026-04-17 15:58:25.741291; freshness should be verified

Geography

Wheaton River District, southern Yukon, Canada, specifically the Mt. Skukum Volcanic Complex.