Hyperspectral imaging of speleothems

Proxy records from speleothems are used in palaeoclimatic reconstructions, as the factors controlling their growth rate, nature of their internal structure and chemical composition respond to changes in surface climate. Optical analyses of stalagmites include visual observation of stalagmite images obtained from flatbed scanners or digital cameras. Hyperspectral imaging has not been used in stalagmite research, but potentially has many advantages over standard optical imaging techniques. Hyperspectral images of a set of stalagmites have been obtained in order to demonstrate the application of hyperspectral imaging in speleothem research. Our results highlight the following: (1) Spectra obtained for these calcite stalagmites are similar between a group of stalagmites of different ages, hydrological setting within a cave and from different caves. (2) The largest differences in relative reflectance between areas of dark compact calcite (DCC) and white porous calcite (WPC) are in the range 470–590 nm (this may extend to 680 nm for some of the stalagmites). (3) Imaging in the near infrared (NIR) demonstrates a decrease in reflection at water absorbance wavelengths, suggesting there is potential for mapping H2O.