Abstract
In this research, airborne geophysical and remote sensing datasets were integrated for gold potentiality mapping (GPM) over the Atalla area in Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Utilizing aeromagnetic data, detailed structural complexity maps were constructed using the center for exploration targeting (CET) procedure. Then, spectrometric gamma-ray data primarily located hydrothermally altered tracts with discriminating various rock units. The latter are precisely outlined by implementing various techniques (false-color composite (FCC), band ratio (BR), relative absorption band depth (RBD), directed principal component analysis (DPCA), and constrained energy minimization (CEM)) to ASTER, Sentinel 2 and ALOS PRISM datasets, with reference to the geological maps. The study exhibits that gold mineralization is structurally controlled by NW-SE direction. The findings of structural complexity and hydrothermal alteration (argillic, advanced argillic, phyllic, and propylitic) were used as weighted inputs for contouring gold potentiality. The resultant GPM accentuated five gold-promising zones; two are confirmed via locations of ancient gold mines, while the remaining three zones are strongly recommended for their gold potentiality.
Highlights
The exploration of potentially mineralized areas substantially relies on an integrated analysis of multiple datasets, mostly geophysical, remote sensing, geological, and geochemical
In this research, airborne geophysical and remote sensing datasets were integrated for gold potentiality mapping (GPM) over the Atalla area in Central Eastern Desert, Egypt
Spectrometric gamma-ray data primarily located hydrothermally altered tracts with discriminating various rock units. The latter are precisely outlined by implementing various techniques (false-color composite (FCC), band ratio (BR), relative absorption band depth (RBD), directed principal component analysis (DPCA), and constrained energy minimization (CEM)) to ASTER, Sentinel 2 and Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Panchromatic Remote-sensing Instrument for Stereo Mapping (PRISM) datasets, with reference to the geological maps
Summary
The exploration of potentially mineralized areas substantially relies on an integrated analysis of multiple datasets, mostly geophysical, remote sensing, geological, and geochemical. Some methods (e.g., magnetic) may directly detect ore deposits such as ferromagnetic minerals [1], while deposits enriched in natural radioelements (potassium, thorium, and uranium) can be outlined by spectrometric gamma-rays. Airborne geophysical methods involving aeromagnetic and spectrometric gammarays stand out from other geophysical approaches due to their rapid rate of coverage and low cost per unit area surveyed for deducing both hidden ores and structural features (faults, dykes, shear zones) associated with mineral deposits. The gamma-ray spectrometric method is appropriate for the identification of lithologies based on the concentration of radioelements between rock units and structures that cannot be recognized by using potential methods [7,8]. The method showed significant success in the precise detection of hydrothermally altered rocks, which are essentially linked to favorable sites of ore deposits
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