Data-driven AHP: a novel method for porphyry copper prospectivity mapping in the Varzaghan District, NW Iran

This research focused on mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) for porphyry copper deposits in the Varzaghan area of northwestern Iran. We investigated the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool, within a knowledge-driven MPM framework. To address...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth science informatics 2024-12, Vol.17 (6), p.5063-5078
Main Authors: Saremi, Mobin, Maghsoudi, Abbas, Hoseinzade, Zohre, Mokhtari, Ahmad Reza
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analytic hierarchy process
Benchmarks
Bias
Copper
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth science
Earth Sciences
Earth System Sciences
Geology
Hierarchies
Informatics
Information Systems Applications (incl.Internet)
Mapping
Methods
Mineral exploration
Mineralization
Minerals
Mining engineering
Multiple criteria decision making
Multiple criterion
Ontology
Porphyry copper
Review
Sediments
Simulation and Modeling
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
Spatial data
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Summary:This research focused on mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) for porphyry copper deposits in the Varzaghan area of northwestern Iran. We investigated the use of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool, within a knowledge-driven MPM framework. To address potential bias and uncertainty introduced by expert opinions, we implemented a novel approach using the prediction-area (P-A) plot to optimize the construction of the pairwise matrix. Our data-driven AHP model integrated multi-element geochemical data, fault density, proximity to intrusive rocks, and distances to argillic and phyllic alterations. We validated the model using 17 known mineral occurrences (KMOs) as benchmarks. The P-A plot assessment showed that 80% of KMOs were predicted within 20% of the study area, demonstrating the effectiveness of the data-driven AHP method for identifying exploration targets in the Varzaghan region.
ISSN:1865-0473
1865-0481
DOI:10.1007/s12145-024-01481-6