Utilization of Landsat-8 Imagery and Aeromagnetic Data for Deciphering Alteration Zones and Structures: Implications for Mineral Exploration in the Southeastern Desert of Egypt

Abstract

Remote-sensing (RS) and aeromagnetic data implemented notable information for mineralization potentiality detection of ore deposits within Al-Allaqi region of the southeastern Desert of Egypt. Several approaches of remote-sensing and aeromagnetic data were implemented. Results of band ratios (BR) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) practicing Landsat-8 successfully imaged the hydrothermally altered zones and the structures outlined by lithologic contacts, faults, and porphyry features (dyke-like structures). Lineaments well extracted using aeromagnetic datasets. CET system method was applied for generating a heat map of the structural complexity. Likewise, the CET Porphyry Analysis system was performed to extract the likely near-circular porphyry features that revealing a probable site of mineralization and to validate the remote sensing observations. Integrated outcomes showed that areas of highly complex structures, density (fractures/faults) are consistent with the detected hydrothermally altered areas that are rivaled with mining zones in Al-Allaqi region of the Southeastern Desert of Egypt. This approach can be broadly appropriate to other divisions of the Southeastern Desert of Egypt for mineral prospecting.

Multisensor Satellite Data and Field Studies for Unravelling the Structural Evolution and Gold Metallogeny of the Gerf Ophiolitic Nappe, Eastern Desert, Egypt

“…It depends on the remotely sensed data surface reflectance and the reference spectra of the target alteration zone minerals acquired from the spectral analysis or spectral library. It has become one of the best mineral mapping techniques and most used for minerals abundance mapping [76]. The current study used CEM to distinguish seven alteration minerals which represent three alteration zones of argillic (kaolinite) Phyllic (illite, montmorillonite,) and propylitic (chlorite, epidote, calcite, talc) from the ASTER VNIR-SWIR surface reflectance data.…”