A review of machine learning in processing remote sensing data for mineral exploration
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Abstract (arXiv)
The decline of the number of newly discovered mineral deposits and increase in demand for different minerals in recent years has led exploration geologists to look for more efficient and innovative methods for processing different data types at each stage of mineral exploration. As a primary step, various features, such as lithological units, alteration types, structures, and indicator minerals, are mapped to aid decision-making in targeting ore deposits. Different types of remote sensing datasets, such as satellite and airborne data, make it possible to overcome common problems associated with mapping geological features. The rapid increase in the volume of remote sensing data obtained from different platforms has encouraged scientists to develop advanced, innovative, and robust data processing methodologies. Machine learning methods can help process a wide range of remote sensing datasets and determine the relationship between components such as the reflectance continuum and features of interest. These methods are robust in processing spectral and ground truth measurements against noise and uncertainties. In recent years, many studies have been carried out by supplementing geological surveys with remote sensing datasets, which is now prominent in geoscience research. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the implementation and adaptation of some popular and recently established machine learning methods for processing different types of remote sensing data and investigates their applications for detecting various ore deposit types. We demonstrate the high capability of combining remote sensing data and machine learning methods for mapping different geological features that are critical for providing potential maps. Moreover, we find there is scope for advanced methods to process the new generation of remote sensing data for creating improved mineral prospectivity maps.
Key facts. Cited by 16 papers in the map (data through 7 Oct 2026). Builds on 10 of its 241 references that are in the map. First posted on arXiv 13 Mar 2021.
Builds on
10 of 241 references.
References · 10
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Citing papers per year: 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 5; 2025: 3; 2026: 5.
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- 2024HIR-Diff: Unsupervised Hyperspectral Image Restoration Via Improved Diffusion Modelscited by 38
- 2022Current Trends in Deep Learning for Earth Observation: An Open-source Benchmark Arena for Image Classificationcited by 18
- 2024HSIMamba: Hyperpsectral Imaging Efficient Feature Learning with Bidirectional State Space for Classificationcited by 14
- 2024HyperspectralViTs: General Hyperspectral Models for On-board Remote Sensingcited by 11
- 2026Multi-encoder ConvNeXt Network with Smooth Attentional Feature Fusion for Multispectral Semantic Segmentationcited by 3
- 2023Reef-insight: A framework for reef habitat mapping with clustering methods via remote sensingcited by 1
- 2023Semi-Automated Segmentation of Geoscientific Data Using Superpixelscited by 0
- 2024Leveraging Internal Representations of Model for Magnetic Image Classificationcited by 0
- 2024Remote sensing framework for geological mapping via stacked autoencoders and clusteringcited by 0
- 2025Convolutional neural networks for mineral prospecting through alteration mapping with remote sensing datacited by 0
- 2025TTRD3: Texture Transfer Residual Denoising Dual Diffusion Model for Remote Sensing Image Super-Resolutioncited by 0
- 2025A Diff-Attention Aware State Space Fusion Model for Remote Sensing Classificationcited by 0
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- 2026Remote sensing data imputation using deep learning for multispectral imagerycited by 0
- 2026Remote sensing data imputation using deep learning for multispectral imagery19 May 2026
- 2026AnyBand-Diff: A Unified Remote Sensing Image Generation and Band Repair Framework with Spectral Priors14 May 2026
- 2026D2-CDIG: Controlled Diffusion Remote Sensing Image Generation with Dual Priors of DEM and Cloud-Fog14 May 2026
- 2026A generalised pre-training strategy for deep learning networks in semantic segmentation of remotely sensed images30 Apr 2026
- 2026Multi-encoder ConvNeXt Network with Smooth Attentional Feature Fusion for Multispectral Semantic Segmentation8 Feb 2026
- 2025A Diff-Attention Aware State Space Fusion Model for Remote Sensing Classification23 Apr 2025
- 2025TTRD3: Texture Transfer Residual Denoising Dual Diffusion Model for Remote Sensing Image Super-Resolution17 Apr 2025
- 2025Convolutional neural networks for mineral prospecting through alteration mapping with remote sensing data25 Feb 2025
- 2024HyperspectralViTs: General Hyperspectral Models for On-board Remote Sensing22 Oct 2024
- 2024Remote sensing framework for geological mapping via stacked autoencoders and clustering2 Apr 2024
- 2024HSIMamba: Hyperpsectral Imaging Efficient Feature Learning with Bidirectional State Space for Classification30 Mar 2024
- 2024Leveraging Internal Representations of Model for Magnetic Image Classification11 Mar 2024
4 more
- 2024HIR-Diff: Unsupervised Hyperspectral Image Restoration Via Improved Diffusion Models24 Feb 2024
- 2023Semi-Automated Segmentation of Geoscientific Data Using Superpixels20 Mar 2023
- 2023Reef-insight: A framework for reef habitat mapping with clustering methods via remote sensing26 Jan 2023
- 2022Current Trends in Deep Learning for Earth Observation: An Open-source Benchmark Arena for Image Classification14 Jul 2022
- 2024HIR-Diff: Unsupervised Hyperspectral Image Restoration Via Improved Diffusion Modelscited by 38
- 2025TTRD3: Texture Transfer Residual Denoising Dual Diffusion Model for Remote Sensing Image Super-Resolutioncited by 0
- 2026AnyBand-Diff: A Unified Remote Sensing Image Generation and Band Repair Framework with Spectral Priorscited by 0
- 2026AnyBand-Diff: A Unified Remote Sensing Image Generation and Band Repair Framework with Spectral Priors14 May 2026
- 2025TTRD3: Texture Transfer Residual Denoising Dual Diffusion Model for Remote Sensing Image Super-Resolution17 Apr 2025
- 2024HIR-Diff: Unsupervised Hyperspectral Image Restoration Via Improved Diffusion Models24 Feb 2024
- 2022Current Trends in Deep Learning for Earth Observation: An Open-source Benchmark Arena for Image Classificationcited by 18
- 2024HSIMamba: Hyperpsectral Imaging Efficient Feature Learning with Bidirectional State Space for Classificationcited by 14
- 2024HyperspectralViTs: General Hyperspectral Models for On-board Remote Sensingcited by 11
- 2026Multi-encoder ConvNeXt Network with Smooth Attentional Feature Fusion for Multispectral Semantic Segmentationcited by 3
- 2023Reef-insight: A framework for reef habitat mapping with clustering methods via remote sensingcited by 1
- 2023Semi-Automated Segmentation of Geoscientific Data Using Superpixelscited by 0
- 2024Leveraging Internal Representations of Model for Magnetic Image Classificationcited by 0
- 2024Remote sensing framework for geological mapping via stacked autoencoders and clusteringcited by 0
- 2025Convolutional neural networks for mineral prospecting through alteration mapping with remote sensing datacited by 0
- 2026A generalised pre-training strategy for deep learning networks in semantic segmentation of remotely sensed imagescited by 0
- 2026D2-CDIG: Controlled Diffusion Remote Sensing Image Generation with Dual Priors of DEM and Cloud-Fogcited by 0
- 2026Remote sensing data imputation using deep learning for multispectral imagerycited by 0
- 2026Remote sensing data imputation using deep learning for multispectral imagery19 May 2026
- 2026D2-CDIG: Controlled Diffusion Remote Sensing Image Generation with Dual Priors of DEM and Cloud-Fog14 May 2026
- 2026A generalised pre-training strategy for deep learning networks in semantic segmentation of remotely sensed images30 Apr 2026
- 2026Multi-encoder ConvNeXt Network with Smooth Attentional Feature Fusion for Multispectral Semantic Segmentation8 Feb 2026
- 2025Convolutional neural networks for mineral prospecting through alteration mapping with remote sensing data25 Feb 2025
- 2024HyperspectralViTs: General Hyperspectral Models for On-board Remote Sensing22 Oct 2024
- 2024Remote sensing framework for geological mapping via stacked autoencoders and clustering2 Apr 2024
- 2024HSIMamba: Hyperpsectral Imaging Efficient Feature Learning with Bidirectional State Space for Classification30 Mar 2024
- 2024Leveraging Internal Representations of Model for Magnetic Image Classification11 Mar 2024
- 2023Semi-Automated Segmentation of Geoscientific Data Using Superpixels20 Mar 2023
- 2023Reef-insight: A framework for reef habitat mapping with clustering methods via remote sensing26 Jan 2023
- 2022Current Trends in Deep Learning for Earth Observation: An Open-source Benchmark Arena for Image Classification14 Jul 2022