Mapping mafic and ultramafic units using remote sensing data in north east Botswana

Mafic and ultramafic (M-UM) units were identified from a wide area in the north east Botswana by using remote sensing thermal infrared (TIR) data and digital elevation model (DEM) data. Areas that show high emissivity in the TIR data can be estimated as M-UM units. In addition, areas that are accompanied with topographic anomaly in the DEM data are estimated as ultramafic units since ultramafic units have a weathering resistant feature. Mafic units do not show a topographic anomaly feature. Mafic and ultramafic units can be descriminated respectively by considering the TIR and DEM data. The MUM units estimated from the TIR and DEM data in the north east part of Botswana were confirmed by ground truth survey.