From Space to Field: Multi-Scale Characterization of Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits in the Alma Inlier, Western Anti-Atlas, Morocco

Abstract

The Anti-Atlas, one of the oldest mountain chains in Morocco, has undergone multiple orogenic events that shaped its complex geology, making it a major province of sediment-hosted copper deposits, particularly in its western part. This study adopts a multi-scale, interdisciplinary workflow combining high-resolution hyperspectral remote sensing (up to 5 m spatial resolution), field-based spectral validation, geochemical analyses, and airborne geophysical data to achieve a comprehensive characterization of mineralization processes. Regional mapping of structural lineaments and copper-related alteration zones guided field investigations and the sampling of both mineralized and non-mineralized facies, allowing constraints to be placed on the origin of mineralization. These surface observations were subsequently linked to subsurface architecture through airborne geophysical modelling of regional geological cross-sections derived from field data. The integrated interpretation of all datasets enabled the development of a coherent geodynamic model adapted to the Alma Inlier. Overall, the proposed approach enhances exploration efficiency, reduces uncertainty, and supports more sustainable mineral exploration strategies.Keywords: Western Anti-Atlas, copper deposits, Hyperspectral remote sensing, Geochemical and geophysical integration, Exploration