Uranium potentiality mapping of G-V occurrence at Gabal Gattar area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt, using GIS approach

Abstract

Delineation and evaluation of mineral resources are major exploration parameters required for investment decisions. Identifying the best probable sites for uranium mineralization in terrains of lack subsurface penetrations is a challenging task. In northern part of Egyptian Eastern Desert, the uranium occurrences of Gabal Gattar area are among the most important source of uranium mineralization. Gattar-V (G-V) uranium occurrence considered as the most important uranium locality in the northern parts of Gabal Gattar area. The well-known uranium mineralization in this occurrence is restricted to the geological contact zone between the Hammamat sedimentary rocks and the G. Gattar Alkali feldspar granite. The lithological units and their alteration zones that are associated with the uranium mineralization and the ground spectrometric measurements data are identified and delineated throughout the field work of the geological investigation. In addition to the delineation of visible uranium mineralized zones, useful aid for the location of uranium promising zones is provided. Uranium potential (UP) mapping is a systematic tools that considers the main controlling factors which influence the localization of uranium mineralization within their host rocks. The present study aims to highlight, identify, model and map uranium promising zones in G-V uranium occurrence by using Geographic Information System (GIS) to construct multiple geological thematic maps such as different kind of alteration, contact zone, radiometric measurement and secondary zones of uranium mineralization. The constructed thematic maps of the different controlling factors of U-mineralization are assigned with a fixed score, weight, and calculated using a linear equation approach. Each weighted thematic map is statistically calculated to produce a uranium potential levels map of the investigated area. The uranium potential areas thus obtained were classified into four classes of potentiality (very high, high, moderate and low). The obtained an integrated uranium potential map of the investigated area will be a useful guide in the mining planning activity and create a good decision for better planning and management of uranium resource.