Remote Sensing
Data sources
We fuse multiple satellite and elevation datasets into a single analysis — so you get the most complete picture of your region's mineral potential.
Spectral Sensors
Primary data sources
Sentinel-2
ESA / Copernicus
Our workhorse for spectral mapping. Band ratios reveal iron oxide and hydroxyl alteration — the foundation of every Madini analysis, updated every 5 days globally.
Strengths
- + 10m visible resolution
- + Global 5-day revisit
- + Free and open access
- + Good SWIR for hydroxyl
Limitations
- - Only 2 SWIR bands
- - Cannot distinguish clay species
ASTER
NASA / METI
Where Sentinel-2 sees alteration, ASTER tells you exactly which minerals. Six SWIR bands resolve sericite from kaolinite, chlorite, and carbonate — read from the L1T product, which its producer corrects for SWIR crosstalk.
Strengths
- + 6 SWIR bands for detailed mineralogy
- + 20+ year heritage
- + SWIR crosstalk corrected by the producer (L1T)
Limitations
- - 30m SWIR; the VNIR and thermal bands are not used
- - No longer acquiring new SWIR
EMIT
NASA / JPL
NASA's game-changer. 285 contiguous spectral bands enable direct mineral identification — not proxies, but actual species. Chlorite, kaolinite vs sericite doublet, and true propylitic alteration mapping.
Strengths
- + Resolves individual mineral species
- + Direct identification (not proxies)
- + Mg-OH at 2.32µm
- + Free NASA data
Limitations
- - 60m spatial resolution
- - ISS orbit limits coverage
Supporting Data
Elevation & structure
SRTM
Elevation · C-band radar · 30m
The backbone of structural analysis. Slope, curvature, and multi-azimuth hillshade reveal topographic edges and structurally complex zones from elevation data alone.
- + Global 30m coverage
- + 8-direction hillshade (Horn 1981)
- + Native 30m curvature
- + Sobel edge detection
At a Glance
Official Data Source Documentation
All data sources used by Madini are freely available from their respective providers. For technical specifications, calibration details, and access:
Last updated: October 3, 2026