Drill Cores and REE Absorption Spectra

Hyperspectral imaging is being used to detect rare earth elements (REE) including neodium (Nd) in Yellowstone drill hole core on the mm to cm scale. Image (A) is a true-color composite from the visible/near-infrared (VNIR) camera collected at 0.16 mm per pixel for drill hole Y-12 from Norris Geyser Basin. Image (B) shows areas with detected REE absorption features in red. The plot (C) shows an example spectrum from an area with REE absorption features, arrows indicating absorption features used in the spectral feature analysis method that was applied to detect REEs.