Time-gated Raman Proximal Sensing for an Earth Observation Platform

Airborne and spaceborne sensors enable the rapid acquisition of large-area geospatial data, supporting multiple stages of mining operations, including exploration. While powerful, these techniques benefit from complementary proximal measurements to enhance mineralogical detail. This study investigates time-gated Raman spectroscopy as a field-deployable tool for Earth observation platforms, integrating a custom sampling solution for in situ analysis. Rock specimens and thin sections from Bockau, Germany, and Panagyurishte, Bulgaria, were examined under both field and laboratory conditions. Raman spectra revealed a minor systematic offset in peak positions compared with reference databases. Sixteen minerals were identified in the German samples and twenty-one in the Bulgarian samples, demonstrating the method's capability to deliver rapid, site-specific mineral characterization that complements remote sensing data.