Collaborative interpretation of structure and alteration for fluorite mining areas based on Landsat-8 and UAV oblique photography, and its application to mineral prospectivity prediction

In complex mining areas, traditional exploration methods are often costly and inefficient. To address this issue, this study takes the Yangchuan-Yaohua fluorite mining area in Shaanxi Province as an example and proposes a multi-scale collaborative interpretation method that combines "Landsat-8-based regional identification with UAV-based local verification." First, Landsat-8 remote sensing data were used for large-scale extraction of hydroxyl, iron-stain, and silicification alteration information, as well as for interpreting the regional structural framework. On this basis, for the key sectors identified through remote sensing interpretation, high-precision image data acquired by UAV oblique photography were further employed for refined identification and ground validation of local fault structures. The results show that fluorite orebodies in the study area are primarily controlled by NNW-trending faults, and the combination of silicification and hydroxyl alteration has direct indicative significance for mineralization. Through a coupled analysis of structures and alterations, a remote sensing prospecting model was constructed, and three prospective target areas were delineated accordingly. This study clarifies the role of UAV technology within the "space-air" integration framework—namely, performing refined characterization and spatial verification of local targets based on regional-scale remote sensing interpretation—thereby providing an effective technical pathway for mineral exploration in complex structural areas.