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)

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 i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2022-02, Vol.12 (3), p.957
Main Authors: Mamouch, Younes, Attou, Ahmed, Miftah, Abdelhalim, Ouchchen, Mohammed, Dadi, Bouchra, Achkouch, Lahsen, Et-tayea, Yassine, Allaoui, Abdelhamid, Boualoul, Mustapha, Randazzo, Giovanni, Lanza, Stefania, Muzirafuti, Anselme
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Airborne sensing
ASTER
Clay minerals
Copper
Data mining
Eastern Anti-Atlas
Fault lines
Faults
Fuzzy logic
fuzzy logic modelling
Gamma rays
Geographic information systems
Geology
Geophysics
Gold
Iron oxides
Kelâat M’Gouna inlier
Mapping
Massifs
Mineral exploration
Mineralization
Minerals
natural gamma-ray spectrometry
Pan-Africanism
Potassium
Quartz
Remote sensing
Satellite imagery
Satellites
Scientific imaging
Spectrometry
Spectroscopy
Thorium
Uranium
Veins & arteries
Volcanoes
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app12030957