The objectives of this study were to evaluate samples of diabase with three different weathering stages, one sample of rhyolite and four of argilite, through the analysis of their spectral reflectance. Samples of geological materials occuring in the Piracicaba SP Brazil region, (diabase and argilite), and the Palmas PR Brazil region, (rhyolite) were collected. Spectral data were obtained using a laboratory spectroradiometer, covering the 400 to 2500 nm wavelength range. The main conclusions were: a. it was possible to discriminate the geologic materials by reflectance intensity and by absorption features of the spectral curves; b. the descriptive analysis discriminated the different weathering stages of the diabase rock, specially observing the intensity and absorption features of the spectral curves. As the weathering process occurs, changes of the composition of the rocks could be recognized in the reflectance curves; c. 2300 nm band, due to the Mg-OH group, which occurs for diabase, did not occur for the argilite, and was a discriminant band for argilite.
spectral reflectance; geological materials; weathering; absorption features