Using of Remote Sensing and Aeromagnetic Data for Predicting Potential Areas of Hydrothermal Mineral Deposits in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt

  • Mohamed Abdelkareem South Valley University
  • Abdelhady Akrby South Valley University
  • Mousa Fakhry South Valley University
  • Mohamed Mostafa Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority
Keywords: Remote Sensing, Aeromagnetic data, Hydrothermal alteration, Egypt

Abstract

This article explored mineral resources and their relation to structural settings in the Central Eastern Desert (CED) of Egypt. Integration of remote sensing (RS) with aeromagnetic (AMG) data was conducted to generate a min_x005feral predictive map. Several image transformation and enhancement techniques were performed to Landsat Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. Using band ratios and oriented principal component analysis (PCA) on OLI data allowed delineating hydrothermal alteration zones (HAZs) and highlighted structural discontinuity. Moreover, processing of the AMG using Standard Euler deconvolution and residual magnetic anomalies successfully revealed the subsurface structural features. Zones of hydrothermal alteration and surface/subsurface geologic structural density maps were combined through GIS technique. The results showed a mineral predictive map that ranked from very low to very high probability. Field validation allowed verifying the prepared map and revealed several mineralized sites including talc, talc-schist, gold mines and quartz veins associated with hematite. Overall, integration of RS and AMG data are powerful techniques in revealing areas of potential mineralization involved with hydrothermal processes.

References

1. Abdelkareem, M., El-Baz, F. (2015): Mode of formation of the Nile Gorge in northern Egypt: a

study by DEM-SRTM data and GIS analysis. Geological Journal, Wiley.Vol. 51: 760-778

2. Abdelkareem, M., El-Baz F. (2017): “Characterizing

hydrothermal alteration zones in Hamama area in

the central Eastern Desert of Egypt by remotely

sensed data.” Journal of Geocarto International, In

Press.

3. Abdelkareem, M., Kamal El-Din, Osman I. (2018):

An integrated approach for mapping mineral resources in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. International

Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 73, 682-696.

4. Abdelsalam, M.G., Stern, R.J., Berhane, W.G.

(2000): Mapping gossans in arid regions with

Landsat TM and SIR-C images: the Beddaho Alteration Zone in northern Eritrea. Journal of African

EarthSciences, 30(4): 903-916 pp.

5. Ahmed A, Abdelkareem M, Asran M. Asran, Tawfig

M. Mahran. 2017. Geomorphic and lithologic characteristics of Wadi Feiran basin, Southern Sinai,

Egypt, using remote sensing and field investigations.

Earth System Science Journal, 126:85, 1-25.

6. Alexander, Io., Samuel, O.O., Esther, C.M., Theophillus, T.E., Kingsley, C.I., Kingsley, C.N., (2015):

Integrating Landsat-ETM and Aeromagnetic data

for enhanced structural interpretation over Naragwata area, North – Central Nigeria. International

Journal for Science and Engineering Research, 6 (9),

2229-5518.

7. Amuda OS., Adebisi S., Jimoda L., Alade A. (2014):

Challenges and Possible Panacea to the Municipal

Solid Wastes Management in Nigeria. J. Sust. Dev.

Studies. 6 (1):64-70.

8. Cappaccioni, B., Vaselli, O., Moretti, E., Tassi, F.,

Franchi, R. (2003): The Origin of thermal water

from the eastern flank of the Dead Rift Valley. Terra

Nova 15 (3),145.

9. Conoco (1987): Geological Map of Egypt, Scale

1:500,000, Sheet NG36NW Quseir-NG36NW Asyut,

Egypt. The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation, Cairo, Egypt.

10. Edgardo, G., James, Hurtak, J. (1992): Laser Remote Sensing of Forest and Crops in Genetic-rich

Tropical, vol. XXIX. International Archives of

Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. ISPRS, 7

pages.

11. El-Etr, H.A., Yousef, M.S.M., Dardir, A.A. (1979):

Utilization of Landsat images and conventional aerial photographs in the delineation of some aspects

of the geology of the Central Eastern Desert, Egypt,

Annals of Geological Survey of Egypt, ix, 136-

162.

12. El Khidir, S.O., Babikir, I.A. (2013): Digital image

processing and geospatial analysis of landsat 7

ETM+ for mineral exploration, Abidiya area, North

Sudan. International Journal of Geomatics and Geosciences, 3, (3), 645-658.

13. Eldosouky, A. M., Abdelkareem, M., Elkhateeb, S.

O. (2017): Integration of remote sensing and aeromagnetic data for mapping structural features and

hydrothermal alteration zones in Wadi Allaqi area,

South Eastern Desert of Egypt. Journal of African

Earth Sciences 130: 28-37.

14. El-Rakaiby, M.L. (1995): the use of enhanced

Landsat-TM image in the characterization of

uraniferous granite rocks in the central Eastern Desert, Egypt. International Journal of Remote sensing.

16 (6), 1063-1074.

15. Farghaly, A.M.A. (1999): Structural framework of

the Central-Eastern Desert of Egypt, using remote

sensing techniques and ground data. Ph.D. Thesis,

South Valley University. Sohag.

16. Gad, S., Kusky, T. (2006): Lithological mapping in

the Eastern Desert of Egypt, the Barramiya area,

using Landsat thematic mapper (TM), Journal of

African Earth Sciences. (in press).

17. Gass, I. G. (1977): The evolution of the

Pan-African crystalline basement inNE Africa and

Saudi Arabia. Journal of the Geological Society of

London., 134: 129-138.

18. Ghebreab, W. (1998): Tectonics of the Red Sea

region reassessed. Earth Science Rev. 45, 1-44.

19. Goetz, A.F.H., Rock, B.N., Rowan, L.C. (1983):

Remote sensing for exploration, an

overview. Economic Geology., 78, 573–590.

20. Hsu Shu-Kun (2002). Imaging magnetic sources

using Euler’s equation. Geophysical prospecting, 50,

pp 15-25.

21. Kamal El-Din, G., Abdelkareem, M., 2018. Integration of remote sensing, geochemical and field

data in the Qena-Safaga shear zone: Implications for

structural evolution of the Eastern Desert, Egypt.

Journal of African Earth Sciences 141, 179-193.

22. Kröner, A. (1985): Ophiolites and the evolution of

tectonic boundaries in theLate Proterozoic Arabian-Nubian Shield of Northeastern Africa and Arabia.

Precambrian Research, 27(1-3), 277-300.

23. Madani, A., Abdel Rahman, E. M., Fawzy, K. M.,

Emam, A. (2003): Mapping of the hydrothermal alteration zones at Haimur Gold Mine Area, South

Eastern Desert, Egypt using remote sensing techniques; The Egyptian Journal Remote Sensing

Space Science, 6: 47–60.

24. O'Connor, E.A., McDonald, A.J.W. (1988): Application of remote sensing for geological mapping in

Eastern Desert, Egypt. Proceeding of IGARSS' 88

symposium, Edimburg, Scotland, 631-632.

25. Poormirzaee, R., Oskouei, M.M. (2010): Use of

spectral analysis for detection of alterations in ETM

data, Yazd, Iran. Applied Geomatics Journal, 4,

147-154.

26. Ramadan, T.M., Abdelsalam, M.G., Stern, R.J.

(2001): Mapping gold-bearing massive sulfide deposits in the neoproterozoic Allaqi Suture, Southeast

Egypt with

Landsat TM and SIR-C/X SAR images. Photogrammet. Eng. Remote Sens. 67 (4), 491e497.

12 Remote Sensing

27. Ramadan, E., Feng, X.Z., Cheng, Z. (2004): Satel_x005flite remote sensing for urban growth assessment in

Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province. Journal of

Zhejiang University Science, 5(9), 1095-1101.

28. Ramadan, T.M., Kontny, A. (2004): Mineralogical

and structuralcharacterization of alteration zones

detected by orbital remote sensingat Shalate in District, South Eastern Desert, Egypt. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 40, 89–99.

29. Ramadan, T.M., Sultan, S.A. (2004): Integration of

Remote Sensing, Geological and Geophysical Data

for the Identification of Massive Sulphide Zones at

Wadi Allaqi Area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt, vol.

18. M.E.R.C. Ain Shams Univ, pp. 165e174. Earth

Sci. Ser.

30. Reid, A. B.; Allsop, J. M.; Granser, H.; Millett, A.

J., Somerton, I.W. (1990): Magnetic interpretation

in three dimensions using Euler deconvolution,

Geophysics, 55, 80–91.

31. Rigol-Sanchez, J.P., Chica-Olma, M., Abarca-Hernandez, F. (2003): Artificial neutral networks

as a tool for mineral potential mapping with GIS.

International Journal of Remote Sensing, 24 (5),

1151-1156.

32. Sabins, F. (1997): Remote Sensing Principles and

Interpretation. Third ed., W.H. Freeman Company,

494 P.

33. Sabins, F. (1999): Remote Sensing for Mineral Exploration. Ore Geology Review, 14, 157-183.

34. Said, R. (1962): Tectonic framework of Egypt and

its influence on distribution of Foraminifera. AAPG

Bull, 45, 198- 218.

35. Said, R. (ed.) (1990): The Geology of Egypt, x

+ 734 pp. Rotterdam, Brookfield: A. A. Balkema.

36. Segal, D. B. (1983): Use of Landsat Multispectral

Scanner Data for Definition of Limonitic Exposures

in Heavily Vegetated Areas. Econ.Geol., EL Paso,

Texas,78, 711-722.

37. Shahi, H., Kamkar-Rouhani, A. (2014): A

GIS-based weights – of – evidence model for mineral potential mapping of hydrothermal gold deposits in Torbat-e-Heydarieh area.

Journal of Mining & Environment, 5 (2), 79-89.

38. Sultan, M., Arvidson, R.E., Sturchio, N.C. (1986):

Mapping of serpentinites in the Eastern Desert of

Egypt by using Landsat thematic mapper data.

Journal of Geology, 14(12):

995-999.

39. Sultan, M., Arvidson, R.E., Sturchio, N.C., Guinness, E.A. (1987): Lithologic mapping in arid regions with Landsat thematic mapper data: Meatiq

Dome, Egypt. Geologic Society Am. Bull

99(6):748–762.

40. Sultan M, Arvidson R.E., Duncan, I.J., Stern, R.J.,

El-Kaliouby, B.E. (1988): Extension of the Najd

shear system from Saudi Arabia to the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt based on integrated field and

Landsat observations. Tectonics 7, 1291-1306.

41. Thompson, D. T. (1982): EULDPH-A new technique for making computer-assisteddepth estimates

from magnetic data: Geophysics, 47, 31–37.

42. Woldai, T., Pistocchi, A., Master, M. (2006): Validation and sensitivity analysis of a mineral potential

model using favourability functions applied GIS,

Volume 2, No. 1, Monash University, press 19 p.

Published
2024-02-27
Section
Original Research Articles