Delineation of hydrothermal alteration zones associated with mineral deposits, using remote sensing and airborne geophysics data. A case study: El-Bakriya area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

El-Bakriya area is situated in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. It includes several mineral occurrences and/or deposits. Data from remote sensing and airborne geophysics (gamma-ray and magnetic) were combined to identify the hydrothermal alteration zones and structures related to these occurrences. Various processing of ASTER satellite images revealed fifteen zones of high probability for metallic mineralizations. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometric data clarify K-enrichment zones, which are correlated geologically with the distribution of calc-alkaline, alkali feldspar granites (Younger granites), and calc-alkaline quartzdiorites to granodiorites (Older granites), as well as basement metavolcanics and metasediments. An integrated hydrothermal alteration map was constructed, based on both ASTER remote sensing and airborne gamma-ray spectrometric data. This map delineates some metallic mineral occurrences and/or deposits, which are located in the detected hydrothermal alteration zones. Besides, it displays new potential zones for mineralization, such as: Gabal (G.) El-Shalul, G. El-Bakriya, G. Siwat El-Arsha and G. Umm Bisilla. The geologic and airborne magnetic maps demonstrate five structural lineament trends of E–W, ENE–WSW, NE–SW, NW–SE, and NNW–SSE directions, which might act as pathways to transport the hydrothermal solutions in the study area.