Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in the Kelâat M’Gouna Region Using Airborne Gamma-Ray Spectrometry and Remote Sensing Data: Mining Implications (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco)
Source abstract
Abstract
The mapping of hydrothermal alteration zones associated with mineralization is of paramount importance in searching for metal deposits. For this purpose, targeting alteration zones by analyzing airborne geophysical and satellite imagery provides accurate and reliable results. In the Kelâat M’Gouna inlier, located in the Saghro Massif of the Moroccan Anti Atlas, natural gamma-ray spectrometry and ASTER satellite data were used to map hydrothermal alteration zones. Natural gamma-ray spectrometry data were processed to produce maps of Potassium (K in %), Uranium (eU in ppm), Thorium (eTh in ppm) and ratios of K/eTh and K/eU. In addition, four-band ratios were computed, on ASTER data, to map the distribution of clay minerals, phyllitic minerals, propylitic minerals, and iron oxides. The combined results obtained from geophysical and satellite data were further exploited by fuzzy logic modelling using the Geographic Information System (GIS) to generate a mineral prospectivity map. Seven hydrothermal alteration zones likely to be favorable for mineralization have been identified. They show a spatial correlation with (i) known surface prospects and mineral occurrences, (ii) the granite-encasing contact zone, and (iii) the fault zones (Sidi Flah and Tagmout faults). This research therefore provides important information on the prospecting of mineral potential in the study area.
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Research context
OpenAlex topics: Geochemistry and Geologic Mapping · Remote-Sensing Image Classification · Soil Geostatistics and Mapping
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
Affiliations
Laboratory Physico-Chemistry of Processes and Materials, Research Team Geology of the Mining and Energetics Resources, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, Hassan First University of Settat, Settat 26002, Morocco
Laboratory of Applied Geology and Geo-Environment, Faculty of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Structural Geology and Thematic Mapping Laboratory, Earth Sciences Department, Faculty of Science, Ibn Zohr University, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Laboratory for Sustainable Innovation and Applied Research, Universiapolis, Technical University of Agadir, Agadir 80000, Morocco
Laboratory of Geoengineering and Environment, Department of Geology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Moulay Ismail, BP 11201 Zitoune, Meknes 50000, Morocco
Dipartimento di Scienze Matematiche e Informatiche, Scienze Fisiche e Scienze della Terra, Università degli Studi di Messina, Via F. Stagno d’Alcontres, 31-98166 Messina, Italy
GeoloGIS s.r.l. Spin Off of Università degli Studi di Messina, 31-98166 Messina, Italy
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