Late Neoproterozoic basement rocks of Meatiq area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt: Petrography and remote sensing characterizations

• Published in: Journal of African earth sciences (1994) 2017-07, Vol.131, p.14-31
• Main Authors: Hassan, Safaa M., El kazzaz, Yahiya A., Taha, Maysa M.N., Mohammad, Abdullah T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Band ratio; Central easter Desert; Egypt; Lithologic mapping; Meatiq dome; Remote sensing
• ISSN: 1464-343X; 1879-1956
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2017.04.001

Meatiq dome is one of the mysteries of the basement rocks in Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. Its mode of formation, and tectonic evolution are still controversial and not fully understood. Satellite remote sensing is a powerful tool for geologic applications, especially in inaccessible regions of the Earth's surface. In this study, three proposed Landsat-8 band ratios (6/2, 6/7, (6/4*4/3)), (6/7, 6/4, 4/2), and (7/5, 7/6, 5/3) are successfully used for detailed geological mapping of the different lithological rock units exposed in Meatiq dome area in the CED. Landsat-8 Principal component (PC) images is also used for refinement the boundaries between the widely-exposed rock units in the study area. Fourteen spectral bands of Advanced Space borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data are successfully used to emphasize the distribution of some rock forming minerals (i.e. muscovite, quartz, ferrous oxides, ferrous silicates and hydroxyl-bearing minerals) in the lithological rock units of Meatiq dome area. ASTER muscovite index (B7/B6) and quartz index (B14/B12), ferrous iron index (B5/B3), ferrous silicates index (B5/B4), mafic index (B12/B13) and hydroxyl-bearing minerals index ((B7/B6)*(B4/B6)) discriminate muscovite bearing rocks, Granitoids, and other felsic rocks, amphibolite and other mafic rocks. The proposed image processing methods effectively discriminates between four granitic varieties existed in Meatiq area. They are namely; Abu Ziran, Ariki, Fawakhir and Atalla Plutons. This study reveals that the applied data of ASTER and Landsat-8 enhanced images produced a modified geological map with well emphasized rock units which are verified with field observations, and petrographic study. •The present work aims to assess the integrating remote sensing and petrography for lithological mapping of Meatiq area.•The processed Landsat 8 and ASTER data have substantially improved the lithological mapping of the study area.•ASTER data are successfully used for the first time in the study area to emphasize some rock forming minerals.•The results of remote sensing are verified, and integrated with petrography to produce lithological map of Meatiq area.