Gold‐copper deposits in Wushitala, Southern Tianshan, Northwest China: Application of ASTER data for mineral exploration

Abstract

The Southern Tianshan area is one of the most important gold belts identified by many world‐class, super large and large gold deposits such as Muruntau (Uzbekistan), Kumtor (Kyrgyzstan), and Jilau (Tajikistan). Some medium‐ to small‐scale gold deposits, such as Sawayaerdun and Bulong, have been discovered and reported in recent years at the China part of the belt. The study area, named the Wushitala area, is located in the eastern part of Southern Tianshan, and it has a strong potential for gold and other metallic mineral deposits. This study utilizes various image processing techniques, including false colour composite, band ratios, and matched filtering, to process Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data and map the distribution of hydrothermal minerals (e.g., muscovite, kaolinite, chlorite, epidote, goethite, and malachite) related to the known deposits in the Wushitala area. The identified alteration zones are coincident with the known gold and copper deposits and field samples from the study area. The distribution of the alteration zones also indicates that the acid intrusions and regional structures play an important role in focusing the mineralizing fluids. The results show that ASTER data accompanied with image processing methods and reference spectra (e.g., JPL, lab, or field measured) could be an effective technique for mapping hydrothermal alteration zones in areas with no dominant vegetation cover. Due to the extensively distributed acid intrusions and structures along the Southern Tianshan Belt, the mineral prospecting methodology is suggested for application in similar geological settings in the belt.