Improved Geological Mapping Using Landsat-5 TM Data in Weixi Area, Yunnan Province, China

Different image processing algorithms have been evaluated in the context of geological mapping using Landsat TM data. False color composites, the principal component imagery, and IHS decorrelation stretching method for Landsat-5 TM data have been found useful for delineating the regional geological features, mainly to provide the maximum geological information of the studied area . The study testifies that using which image processing yields best results for geological mapping in arid and semiarid regions by preserving morphological and spectral information. Generally, the studied area can be divided into three main geological units: Basaltic intrusive rocks, Metamorphic with varying intensities and Sedimentary rocks.