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GEOLOGICAL MAPPING IN THE CHELEKEN PENINSULA, TURKMENISTAN AREA 
USING ADVANCED SPACEBORNE THERMAL EMISSION AND REFLECTION 
RADIOMETER (ASTER) DATA 
P. Junek *^ 
" CTU Prague, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dept. of Mapping and Cartography, Thakurova 7, 16629 Prague 6, Czech Rep. 
junek@gama.fsv.cvut.cz 
11/2002 — 9/2003 an exchange student at: 
? Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Dept. of Applied Earth Sciences, 
Mijnbouwstraat 120, 2628 RX Delft, Netherlands 
PS WG IV/7 
KEY WORDS: Remote Sensing, Geology, Mapping, Multispectral, Analysis 
ABSTRACT: 
High number of geological phenomena — outcropping Pliocene rocks (Red Series), former and recent mud volcanoes, hydrothermal 
brines rich in Pb and Zn — which can provide significant information to understand sedimentology of South Caspian Basin (SCB) 
can be found on the Cheleken Peninsula, Turkmenistan. To test ability of ASTER imagery for mapping of these phenomena and 
their comparison with other areas located in SCB region was the aim of this research. 
For this purpose ASTER Surface Reflectance data (AST 07) were processed. In the first stage all remotely sensed data were 
geometrically pre-processed (so as to have the same geodetic reference). In the second stage, the different false color composite 
images and image enhancement techniques were applied to the data and geological photo interpretation was carried out. In the third 
stage, different band ratio techniques were applied to the data and in the fourth stage, the spectral mapping technique (Matched 
Filtering) in order to map different mineral groups were accomplished. 
The photo interpretation of enhanced imagery (saturation stretched ASTER 631 bands shows the best results) was useful to obtain 
basic knowledge of the area and localize main geological phenomena mentioned in literature. Band rationing (ASTERI / ASTER2) 
is powerful tool for mapping the Red Series outcrops due its significantly higher values of ratio than other rocks of the Cheleken 
Peninsula. Different mineral groups (such as AL-OH bearing minerals — Alunite + Phyrophyllite group, Kaolinite group, Muscovite 
+ Illite group; Carbonates + Mg-OH bearing minerals) were mapped using band rationing and Matched Filtering. 
ASTER imagery allowed us to carry out preliminary geological investigation of the area and find encouraging research methods in 
terms of mapping the main geological phenomena occurring around the peninsula. The results are not confirmed by field spectra or 
other additional data. 
1. INTRODUCTION 1.2 Geologic Setting of Cheleken Peninsula 
1.1 Aim of Study Cheleken Peninsula (53°15° E, 30°28” N) is located on the east 
bank of Caspian Sea in Turkmenistan (Central Asia) (fig. 1). 
The Earth Science Group of Delft University of Technology is 
involved in research in the Caspian area since 1991. The main 
goal is to collect data on the impact of sea-level change on 
sedimentary sequences in different time scales and to develop 
simulation models of fluvial and near shore sedimentary 
systems. To that end several projects have been carried out in 
the Volga and Kura delta. These projects have improved 
understanding of reservoir architecture in these areas. 
Cheleken Peninsula lies on the Absheron-Balkhan sill, which 
divides South Caspian Basin from North Caspian Basin. 
Jackson, 2002 discusses in detail active tectonics of South 
Caspian Basin and conducts the fact that SCB stands as an 
aseismic block about 300x300 km large surrounded by belts of 
intense earthquake activity, where Absheron-Balkhan sill is one 
of those belts. The major fold evolution in the Cheleken 
Peninsula area affecting the Pliocene Red Series and younger 
A third important South Caspian Basin delta system is in ^ sediments causes the right-lateral strike-slip motion between 
Turkmenistan. Outcroping Paleo-Amudarya Sediments form the SCB and Euroasia (NCB). As a result of this movement process 
backbone of Cheleken Peninsula in Turkmenistan. This several anticlines have been formed in the east part of SCB 
Peninsula is not only the site of onshore and offshore oil where the backbone of Cheleken Peninsula (Chochrak Ridge) is 
production, but also produces hydrothermal brines rich in Pb one of anticline axes and represents outcrop of Pliocene Red 
and Zn, in a comparable way as mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan. Series onto the surface. 
In contrast to the modern Volga and Kura deltas, the modern 
Amu Darya (or Uzboy) delta is not functioning any more as a 
delta, as the river has been diverted towards the Aral Sea in 
historic times. Therefore, this abandoned delta is virtually 
devoid of vegetation. This opens a possibility for direct 
spaceborne mapping and spectral comparison with other deltas 
around the region. 
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