A reconnaissance study for tracing and ordering new mineralisation zones using integrated remote sensing, GIS, and aeromagnetic techniques, west Allaqi-Heiani-Suture,Egypt (original) (raw)
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Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences , 2022
Wadi-Allaqi district, in the southern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, is a historic well-known gold resource that has been exploited since the Pharaonic era. The study area represents the western segment of Wadi-Allaqi, about 220 km southeast Aswan city, Upper Egypt. It covers approximately 4702 km 2. Exploring new potential mineralization zones was conducted by integrating the Landsat-8 and aeromagnetic data to map different surfaces of alteration zones and trace shallow and deep mineralized bodies. The corrected Landsat-Operational Land Imager (OLI) bands were processed using the Band Ratio (BR), Crosta, selective for the Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation, and False-Color Composition (FCC) techniques were used to detect the hydrothermal alteration zones and recognize the different geological units. The enhanced eigenimage (MNF1) was processed to delineate the fractures and weakness zones over the west Allaqi-Heini Suture (AHS). The shallow residual mineralized sources have been detected and mapped using the Tilt Derivative (TDR), First Derivative (FVD) and high pass filter techniques of aeromagnetic data. The depths to the mineralized magnetic sources, and hence the roots of gold and other minerals, were obtained using the power spectrum and Euler techniques. Accordingly, new gold and mineralization potential zones were successfully delineated over the study area's ophiolitic, metavolcanics, and granitic rocks. Lineaments deduced from aeromagnetic and remote sensing data represent the pathways of the ascending hydrothermal fluids. The main trends of the dominant structural systems were detected through the statistical analyses of these lineaments.
The Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Science, 2022
Wadi-Allaqi district, in the southern part of the Eastern Desert of Egypt, is a historic well-known gold resource that has been exploited since the Pharaonic era. The study area represents the western segment of Wadi-Allaqi, about 220 km southeast Aswan city, Upper Egypt. It covers approximately 4702 km 2. Exploring new potential mineralization zones was conducted by integrating the Landsat-8 and aeromagnetic data to map different surfaces of alteration zones and trace shallow and deep mineralized bodies. The corrected Landsat-Operational Land Imager (OLI) bands were processed using the Band Ratio (BR), Crosta, selective for the Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation, and False-Color Composition (FCC) techniques were used to detect the hydrothermal alteration zones and recognize the different geological units. The enhanced eigenimage (MNF1) was processed to delineate the fractures and weakness zones over the west Allaqi-Heini Suture (AHS). The shallow residual mineralized sources have been detected and mapped using the Tilt Derivative (TDR), First Derivative (FVD) and high pass filter techniques of aeromagnetic data. The depths to the mineralized magnetic sources, and hence the roots of gold and other minerals, were obtained using the power spectrum and Euler techniques. Accordingly, new gold and mineralization potential zones were successfully delineated over the study area's ophiolitic, metavolcanics, and granitic rocks. Lineaments deduced from aeromagnetic and remote sensing data represent the pathways of the ascending hydrothermal fluids. The main trends of the dominant structural systems were detected through the statistical analyses of these lineaments.
Arabiam Geoscience Journal, 2021
The mines of magnetite and hematite occupy some areas of the Eastern Desert at Wadi Abu Subeira, northeast of Aswan city which is a volcanic and tectonic area. It is one of the largest arc sedimentary rock sequence affected by faulting and folding due to repeated stages of deformation. The iron deposits in this area are of oolitic type and exist in two bands inter-bedded with ferruginous sandstone and clay layers. The thickness of the bands varies from 0.5 to 3.5 m. Detailed geophysical work has been carried out on the promise site of Abu Subeira to identify the lateral and vertical distribution of the iron-ore deposits at this area. Many geophysical methods were applied in this study including Land Magnetic Survey, Electrical Resistivity Imaging (ERI), Induced Polarization (IP), and Time-Domain Electromagnetic (TDEM). Besides, rock samples from the iron ores were collected for chemical analysis. The X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques were applied for estimation of iron concentration (Fe %) and other minerals' contents in the rock samples. The field data sets were measured along the iron ore bodies of Wadi Abu Subeira and were processed and analyzed by the proper software packages. The areas with iron ore deposits were expressed in the geophysical results by low resistivity, high chargeability, and moderate to high magnetic anomalies. Integrated interpretation of the obtained results revealed that the ore deposits exist in the form of lenses with variable thickness ranging from few meters to about 30-m thick. The mineral occurrences in Abu Subeira are managed by the major faults and the hydrothermal fluids flowing along these faults.
Open Journal of Geology, 2016
East Azarbaijan belongs to the Iranian plateau and is part of lesser Caucasus province. Studied area is located in west-central Alborz. The intrusion of oligocene bodies in various units causes the alteration and mineralization in northwest of Iran. The Hizejan-Sharafabad is one of this named mineralized zone. Granitoidicrocks with component of Granodiorite to alkali have been influenced by hydrothermal fluids. Fractures and faults are as weak zone in earth surface and hydrothermal fluids rise to surface by these geological structures. These solutions cause to alteration in host rocks. Alteration zones are important features for the exploration of deposits. The altered rocks have specific absorption in some spectral portion and ASTER sensor is able to identify the type of alteration. Remote sensing method is useful tool for discovering altered area. The purpose of this study is to appraise ASTER data for surveying altered minerals in Hizejan-Sharafabad area in the event of detecting the potential mineralized areas. In this research, False Color Composite (FCC), Band ratio, and color composite ratio techniques are applied on ASTER data and Silica, Argilic, and Propylitic alteration zones are detected. These alteration types and mineralized area are related to Hizejan-Sharafabad fault which is absent in the fault maps. ASAR image processing has been used for lineaments and faults identified by the aid of Directional and Canny Algorithm filters. The structural study focuses on fracture zones and their characteristics including strike, length, and relationship with alteration zones.
The Sangan mining region is the largest Fe skarn in western Asia has emplaced into the Khaf-Kashmar-Bardaskan volcano -plutonic belt in the NE Iran. In this region, carbonate rocks of Jurassic skarnified and hosted different epigenetic types of iron minerals, including magnetite, hematite, goethite, and limonite. The combination of remote sensing and airborne geophysical data is a powerful tool for mapping and interpreting iron mineralization in some area with intensely rugged topography or a broad expanse area, where systematic sampling and conventional geological mapping has some limitation and time consuming. The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite data and airborne geophysical magnetometry data were used for evaluating and mapping different types of iron mineralization in the Sangan mining region. Preprocessing of the datasets involved band ratio (BR), principal component analysis (PCA), spectral angle mapper (SAM), and constrained energy minimization (CEM) of the visible-near infrared and short wave infrared ASTER data were used to map four types of iron minerals (magnetite, hematite, goethite, and limonite). For preparing a lith-ological mapp of this region, an RGB image produced by combination of BR and PCA, (R:(5+7)/6, G:PC3, B:PC 5). Implementing SAM and CEM technique were useful for mapping and detecting magnetite, hematite, goethite, and limonite. The Reduce To the Pole (RTP) map of the airborne geophysical magnetometry data is a practical tool for iron ore exploration that were used in this region for enhancing high anomalous signature of magnetite after extracting granitoid rocks. The integration of the extracted information from the ASTER image processing algorithms and geophysical magnetometry, mapped iron mineralization and identified new potential of high magnetite mineral-ization. The results verified by geological map and comprehensive fieldwork. This integration model can generalize to other arid and semi-arid regions with iron potential for both regional and district scales.
Geographic Information System in mining and mine site redevelopment (example: Kettara Mine, Morocco
Geographic Information System in mining and mine site redevelopment , 2021
Abstract The exploitation of mineral resources is one of the main sources of income for some countries. The processes accompanying mining result in changes in geological or geomorphological, hydrogeological and geochemical conditions over large areas. Environmental changes and disturbances are related to several factors, including the type of resources mined (uranium ore, gas, coal, petroleum ore and construction materials, etc.), the mining methods (open pit or closed pit). The knowledge and topographic control of these mining sites often becomes difficult or impossible to achieve without the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite images for the analysis and large-scale exploitation of various types of materials. They are the basis of the systemic approach of the environmental study, because the image itself is the reduced spatial model of the territory. To stimulate the rate of natural resources and their potential economic use, as well as to examine the influence of these mineral resources on the natural environment, it is necessary to use different data. Only the territorial geographic information system (GIS) is capable of solving the problems of data collection, processing, analysis and storage, as well as modeling the conditions and presenting the information necessary for decision-making. The geographic information system (GIS) is a set of databases composed of remote sensing and cartographic data that allow us to obtain various geographic and geological information during our investigation. The keywords: Mineral resource exploitation, geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, mapping, environmental rehabilitation of mining site
Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences, 2014
GIS is considered an important technique as well as a prerequisite for cost effective mineral exploration and determination of high potential areas. The purpose of this research is to determine high potential iron zones for detailed exploration using index overlay GIS method. Index Overlay was used to combine the geology, topography (scale: 1:1,000), lineaments, remote sensing (ASTER and ETM+) and geochemical data. Appropriate weights were allocated to each layer based on the significance of each data layer. Concentration-area fractal method was applied to data acquired from trenches in order to isolate iron anomalies and add them to the geochemical layer. Evaluation of the information layers along with fractal analysis, differentiated three geochemical iron populations. By combining the information layers obtained from GIS, high potential zones were determined. Regions with codes 1, 2 and 3 are the most promising areas, respectively, and are proposed for more detailed exploration a...
NRIAG Journal of Astronomy and Geophysics, 2015
An integrated approach for geophysical, geological and mineralogical data was followed for Um Naggat area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt, in order to delineate its mineralized zones. The albitized granites are well-defined on the Th-and U-channel images, by their anomalous shapes, reaching 150 ppm and 90 ppm respectively, beside low K content. Interpretations of the aeromagnetic maps delineated four regional structural trends oriented due NNW, NW, ENE and E-W directions. They are identified as strike-slip faults, which coincide well with field observations, where NW-trending faults cut and displace right laterally ENE-trending older ones. The interaction between these two strike-slip fault systems confining the albite granite is easily identified on the regional data presenting longer wavelength anomalies, implying deepseated structures. They could represent potential pathways for migration of enriched mineralized fluids. Geochemically, albite granites of peraluminous characteristics that had suffered extensive post-magmatic metasomatic reworking, resulted into development of (Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, U, Th, Sn) and albite-enriched and greisenized granite body of about 600 m thick, and more than 3 km in strike length. The albite granite is characterized by sharp increase in average rare metal content: Zr (830 ppm), Hf (51 ppm), Nb (340 ppm), Ta (44 ppm), and U (90 ppm). Thorite, uranothorite, uraninite and zircon are the main uranium-bearing minerals of magmatic origin within the enclosing granite. However, with respect to Zr, Nb, and Ta, the albitized granite can be categorized as rare metal granite. The integration of airborne geophysical (magnetic and c-ray spectrometric), geological, geochemical and mineralogical data succeeded in assigning the albite granite of Um Naggat pluton as a mineralized zone. This zone is characterized by its high thorium and uranium of
OROGENIC GOLD PROSPECTIVITY MAPPING USING GEOSPATIAL DATA INTEGRATION, REGION OF SAQEZ, NW OF IRAN
The aim of this study is to map orogenic gold prospecting areas in the region of Saqez, NW of Iran. In order to achieve this task geological, geochemical and airborne geophysical data are analyzed and integrated using index overlay and fuzzy logic methods. Geological map of Saqez (1:100000 scale) is used to assign lithological weights based on their favorability for hosting orogenic Au mineralization. Also a fault density map is produced and assigned based on the structural map which is included in the geological map. For preparing geochemical evidence maps, data from 535 stream sediment samples are examined using Number-Size multifractal method for Au, As, Bi and Hg. The detected thresholds are used to assign the catchment basins of the stream sediment samples. Aeromagnetic data is employed to detect the edges of magnetic anomalies based on an enhanced edge detection method. Extracted lineaments are then converted to a density map and assigned properly. Airborne radiometric data is also used to produce two evidence maps. Potassium count grid independently and K/Th ratio map are employed to distinguish locations with hydrothermal activity. Finally after integrating evidence maps, new locations with high potentials of Au mineralization are identified considering that the gold indications of the study area (Qolqoleh, Kervian and Ghabaghloujeh) are placed in the first priority of the fuzzy logic prospectivity map.
Delta Journal of Science
Mapping the structural lineaments and associated mineralization zones represents an essential step for exploration and extracting new mineral resources required for industrial purposes and economic growth The present study integrates available remote sensing and aeromagnetic data for Safaga area to deduce the structural lineaments and possible associated mineralization, that represent promising economical zones for mineral exploration. The remote sensing data including Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 were used to produce an update geologic map and mineralized zones of the study area. The radar data of Sentinel-1 was used to extract the surface structural lineaments that were found striking NW-SE, NNW-SSE, N-S and NE-SW. Residual magnetic anomalies, on the other hand, helped in locating the subsurface causative bodies where the edge detection method clearly outlined the edges of these subsurface magnetic sources. Moreover, the magnetic Euler deconvolution and structural complexity determined trends and depths of subsurface structural lineaments. The structural lineaments delineated by the remote sensing techniques quite match those delineated by the magnetic data analysis. The integration between the remote sensing and aeromagnetic data can therefore be helpful in determining promising mineralization zones.