Southwestern Australia Acid-Saline Mineralogy: Observations From Reflectance Spectroscopy

Acid-saline sediments in shallow-lake environments southwestern Australia host complex mineralogical suites representing long-term weathering and modern extreme acid-saline chemistry. It is not known whether large-scale reflectance spectroscopy datasets from watersheds across the Yilgarn Craton show regional variability. This study assesses over 2500 spectra of shallow subsurface by using automatic minima detections for spectral features interest. Integrating microscopic observations that proportionally similar mineral assemblages exist a variety recognizable textures. Spectral results indicate iron oxide phyllosilicates are most detected types, alongside less common alunite, jarosite, gypsum. The difference detection abundance percentage groups, particularly oxides, accounts largest variation observed spectra. feature characteristics significant oxide, hydrated absorptions. align with previous these landscapes expected evolution granitoids, where Al-phyllosilicates oxides prevalent. Observations enhance understanding differences similarities chemical precipitates products water–rock interaction have implications studying rocks on Mars.