A GIS-based weights-of-evidence model for mineral potential mapping of hydrothermal gold deposits in Torbat-e-Heydarieh area

Abstract

The method of weights of evidence is one of the most important data-driven method for mineral potential mapping in GIS. In this method, considering the characteristics of known mineralized locations, new mineralized areas can be prospected. In this study, the method of weights of evidence was used for hydrothermal gold potential mapping in Torbat-e-Heydarieh area, east of Iran. As a relatively large number of gold mineral occurrences (i.e., exactly 27 known gold mineralized locations) have been recognized in the study area, the use of the weights of evidence method for prospecting new gold mineralized zones in the area can be quite efficient. To determine probable gold mineralization zones in the form of a posteriori map of the survey area, based on weights of evidence method, this study combined the results of the airborne geophysical, geological, argillic, propillitic and iron oxide alteration, geochemical and structural data were. Consequently, four major zones in this area were identified as high gold mineralization potential zones, in which many vein and veinlet mineralization forms can be found.