The application of remote sensing is considered to be highly efficient in the field of geology, particularly for mapping and discrimination between lithological units, as well as the identification of different surface minerals which enable the acquisition of all the optical and radar data needed to obtain more reliable and particular information, especially in inaccessible areas. Landsat 8 (Operational Land Imager) image bands, which include color compositions 7, 4, and 1, band ratios 7/5, 4/2, 3/1, and 6/3, 6/1, 5/2, Principal Component Analyses PC1, PC4, and PC3, and directional filtering at 0° (NS), 45° (NE–SW), and 90° (EW), were used to analyze the spectral characteristics of the lithological units of the study area and delineate the alteration zones which may contain significant concentrations of base metals. Combined with geological field observations, these data were integrated and analyzed in a geographic information system to establish a multi-criteria characterization of mineralized zones. Hence, the use of remote sensing contributed to the improvement and updating of available geological maps of the Oumjrane–Boukerzia area. Lineament extraction allowed for performed analyses of the structural elements that play a crucial role in the mineral distribution in the study area. Several of the targeted areas were examined in the field by selective sampling. Consequently, the results helped identify new mineralized zones with important mining potential which could be evaluated in the future through detailed geophysical and geochemical work.

Mapping from remote sensing has become more effective in the field of geology, mainly in lithological discrimination and identification of hydrothermal alteration zones. The use of this technique consists in obtaining information about the rock mass and the main ones existing in the inaccessible areas. Satellite data from the ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) sensor represent a favorable potential for detecting the spectral signatures of mineral zones and identifying their nature. These data are more reliable in places where the climate is arid with less abundant vegetation, as at the Oumjrane-Boukerzia mining district. This region which is part of the Eastern Anti-Atlas, is composed of several mineralized veins which still require detailed studies and exploration by the technique of remote sensing. In this work we applied several processing techniques on ASTER imagery such as Colored Composition, Principal Component Analysis and Ratio Bands. The use of the reports of the specialized Bands makes it possible to identify some hydrothermal alteration minerals within the mining district of Oumjrane Boukerzia. These minerals are represented mainly by iron oxides and hydroxides (Hematite, jarosite, limonite and goethite), carbonate minerals (dolomite, calcite), clay minerals (Illite, kaolinite and chlorite) and quartz minerals. This work allows us to produce a map of hydrothermal alteration zones which can be used as a valuable reference in the strategy of mining exploration for the base metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Ba), in the mining district of Oumjrane-Boukerzia and in the entire Eastern Anti-Atlas.