Transferability of ASTER-Derived Spectral Signatures for Lithium Mineral Exploration: From Clayton Valley (USA) to Qahavand Playa (Iran)

Abstract. This paper presents a novel approach for identifying lithium bearing minerals in Qahavand Playa, Iran, using ASTER satellite imagery. The method utilizes reference spectra extracted from Clayton Valley Playas in the United States, a well-known lithium rich area, as input for mineral detection. Image processing was performed using Matched Filtering (MF) method to map potential lithium bearing regions in Qahavand Playa. Results from this remote sensing approach demonstrate strong correlation (R²= 0.94) with field verification and geochemical analysis, confirming the effectiveness of using reference spectra from established lithium deposits for identifying similar mineralogical signatures in unexplored areas. This study highlights the importance of remote sensing techniques in exploration of strategic mineral resources such as lithium, which is essential for electric vehicle batteries and energy storage systems. 
Overall, the results demonstrate the potential of cross regional spectral transfer as a powerful tool for guiding targeted mineral exploration in unexplored playa environments.