<p>Those blue colors are basically artefacts due to image processing. </p>

<p><a href="https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=7eb32f29-b56a-482e-9a7a-1c8ced25ae49&amp;cp=17.483395~-2.649436&amp;lvl=19&amp;style=h&amp;v=2&amp;sV=2&amp;form=S00027" rel="nofollow noreferrer">The last one in Bing Maps</a> doesn't look blue at all. It's just somehow slightly darker with some trees or large animals. The local change of color might be caused by humidity (maybe a seasonal pond) or animals, or both - if animals come to drink. Interestingly, <a href="https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=e43fd6c3-b085-4e7b-a25c-ed9f06f52739&amp;cp=17.288925~-2.76744&amp;lvl=19&amp;style=h&amp;v=2&amp;sV=2&amp;form=S00027" rel="nofollow noreferrer">there are similar shapes in the area</a> and Bing Maps traces paths converging on them. I don't know how Bing gets those paths (I can't see them in the aerial imaging) but they are consistent with animal paths leading to ponds.</p>

<p>And <a href="https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=ca14bb17-3337-4528-8268-f4c72a193be6&amp;cp=17.464976~-2.670773&amp;lvl=17&amp;style=h&amp;v=2&amp;sV=2&amp;form=S00027" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the second one</a> is just the bed of a dry lake, with salt pans.</p>

<p>The first one lacks coordinates, but we can assume it's just a another color enhanced rather normal piece of desert.</p>

<h2>Edit</h2>

<p>To actually answer the question "I am wondering if this is some kind of satellite imagery to detect heat or moisture? Or is this the actual colour of rock/mineral?", as requested by comments:</p>

<p>The answer is "No, it is neither the colour of rock/mineral or a heat or moisture detector. Blue color is just an artifact due to image processing, as can be seen from comparing those Google Maps images with linked Bing Map images of the same places, which aren't blue at all".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T22:07:14.047Z
This is a conflict region so I was wondering if that flower shaped one was possibly a bomb blast
Jeffrey Boettger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T22:19:11.860Z
The objects in and around the shape might have the clue. Rocks? Cows? Bags?
Pere
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-05T19:24:03.043Z
Why the downvote?
Pere
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-05T20:50:27.457Z
@Pere I have downvoted _(and whoever else did)_ because this post does not correctly answer the question. Please **edit it** to fulfill the expectations the question is asking for.
Eevee
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-03-05T21:42:44.420Z
@Imtherealsanic Thanks for your feedback.
Pere
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T15:09:05.023Z
2018-03-05T21:48:28.990Z
2018-03-05T21:48:28.990Z
Pere
<p>I’ve recently been very interested in globe-trotting via Google Earth. At first I was using it to plan out hikes to possible mineral deposits locally, or potential fossils/ archeology sites. However I soon became sidetracked in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombouctou_Region" rel="nofollow noreferrer">the Tombouctou Region of Mali</a>. I stumbled across an outcrop of rock in the middle of the desert. It appears to be brilliant blue.</p>

<p>I am wondering if this is some kind of satellite imagery to detect heat or moisture? Or is this the actual colour of rock/mineral?</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AZXxV.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AZXxV.jpg" alt="First image"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/f2XqG.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/f2XqG.jpg" alt="Second image"></a></p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ps6t9.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ps6t9.jpg" alt="Third image"></a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-27T11:53:01.593Z
Maybe you could provide us with a more specific location?
bon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-27T19:30:05.490Z
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because not enough information is given to provide a satisfactory answer.
bon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-27T20:09:52.827Z
Short of providing eastings and northings of this location.  I’ve provided Region and Province.   How may I provide to be of more assistance?   I’m new to the site.  I’m still processing the terms and ways to formulate Q:/A: aswell coments.                                                                                        Kind Reguards
Jeffrey Boettger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-28T07:53:04.547Z
Yeah coordinates to the location would be a nice.
Communisty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-28T08:17:35.923Z
We really need coordinates of the location because we need to look at it ourselves. It's very difficult to say anything from one photo.
bon
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-30T21:01:57.677Z
@bon Can you see coordinates at the bottom of two of the images?
Spencer
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-12-30T15:01:00.837Z
Google Maps link for the last image: https://goo.gl/maps/FmydDSAUAju I'd guess it's a drying pond heavily used by cattle.
Pere
<geology><mineralogy><satellites><desert><satellite-oddities>
What are these features in the Tombouctou Region?
Jeffrey Boettger
# What are these features in the Tombouctou Region?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-27)

I’ve recently been very interested in globe-trotting via Google Earth. At first I was using it to plan out hikes to possible mineral deposits locally, or potential fossils/ archeology sites. However I soon became sidetracked in [the Tombouctou Region of Mali](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tombouctou_Region). I stumbled across an outcrop of rock in the middle of the desert. It appears to be brilliant blue.

I am wondering if this is some kind of satellite imagery to detect heat or moisture? Or is this the actual colour of rock/mineral?

[![First image](https://i.sstatic.net/AZXxV.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/AZXxV.jpg)

[![Second image](https://i.sstatic.net/f2XqG.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/f2XqG.jpg)

[![Third image](https://i.sstatic.net/ps6t9.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/ps6t9.jpg)

**Tags:** geology, mineralogy, satellites, desert, satellite-oddities

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Maybe you could provide us with a more specific location?  
> **username_1**: I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because not enough information is given to provide a satisfactory answer.  
> **username_0**: Short of providing eastings and northings of this location.  I’ve provided Region and Province.   How may I provide to be of more assistance?   I’m new to the site.  I’m still processing the terms and ways to formulate Q:/A: aswell coments.                                                                                        Kind Reguards  
> **username_2**: Yeah coordinates to the location would be a nice.  
> **username_1**: We really need coordinates of the location because we need to look at it ourselves. It's very difficult to say anything from one photo.  
> **username_3**: @username_1 Can you see coordinates at the bottom of two of the images?  
> **username_4**: Google Maps link for the last image: https://goo.gl/maps/FmydDSAUAju I'd guess it's a drying pond heavily used by cattle.  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2017-12-30. Score: 2

Those blue colors are basically artefacts due to image processing.

[The last one in Bing Maps](https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=7eb32f29-b56a-482e-9a7a-1c8ced25ae49&cp=17.483395~-2.649436&lvl=19&style=h&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027) doesn't look blue at all. It's just somehow slightly darker with some trees or large animals. The local change of color might be caused by humidity (maybe a seasonal pond) or animals, or both - if animals come to drink. Interestingly, [there are similar shapes in the area](https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=e43fd6c3-b085-4e7b-a25c-ed9f06f52739&cp=17.288925~-2.76744&lvl=19&style=h&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027) and Bing Maps traces paths converging on them. I don't know how Bing gets those paths (I can't see them in the aerial imaging) but they are consistent with animal paths leading to ponds.

And [the second one](https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=ca14bb17-3337-4528-8268-f4c72a193be6&cp=17.464976~-2.670773&lvl=17&style=h&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027) is just the bed of a dry lake, with salt pans.

The first one lacks coordinates, but we can assume it's just a another color enhanced rather normal piece of desert.

## Edit

To actually answer the question "I am wondering if this is some kind of satellite imagery to detect heat or moisture? Or is this the actual colour of rock/mineral?", as requested by comments:

The answer is "No, it is neither the colour of rock/mineral or a heat or moisture detector. Blue color is just an artifact due to image processing, as can be seen from comparing those Google Maps images with linked Bing Map images of the same places, which aren't blue at all".

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This is a conflict region so I was wondering if that flower shaped one was possibly a bomb blast  
> **username_4**: The objects in and around the shape might have the clue. Rocks? Cows? Bags?  
> **username_4**: Why the downvote?  
> **username_5**: @username_4 I have downvoted _(and whoever else did)_ because this post does not correctly answer the question. Please **edit it** to fulfill the expectations the question is asking for.  
> **username_4**: @Imtherealsanic Thanks for your feedback.  

---

