A multispectral material detection system captures spectral data and compares select spectral bands to reflectance spectra of a plurality of materials. The system identifies distinguishing features in reflectance spectra of a plurality of materials and in a plurality of spectral channels identifying distinguishing structural aspects of each material with respect to the background environments. Upon an observed spectral reflectance being proximate to one or more known spectra characteristics, the object is associated with a material of interest.