Remote sensing and aeromagnetic mapping for unveiling mineralization potential: Nuqrah Area, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Lately, Saudi Arabia has been developing its mineral exploration. However, comprehensive studies of the collected data are not accessible. Thus, the purpose of this research is to identify and map the hydrothermal alteration zones and structural lineaments that regulate the mineral occurrences in the Nuqrah region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using remote sensing and aeromagnetic data. To achieve the desired goal of the study, ASTER remote sensing data were employed, and they were processed in several ways, including principal component analysis, band ratio, and false color composites to reveal the zones of alteration and structure lineaments. In addition, aeromagnetic data was employed to map the lineaments controlling the mineralization. These datasets were integrated using GIS tools to generate a new mineralization potential map of the Nuqrah area, which was classified into three classes: low, moderate, and high probability mineralization. The results showed thirteen intriguing anomalies (high potential mineralization) dispersed over the research area to be prospected. Additionally, techniques such as residual, regional, first vertical derivative, and tilt derivative were utilized to detect the potential mineral-related geologic structures. The results were validated by plotting known mineralization sites on our maps. Six significant faulting trends have been found, according to the lineament map and rose diagrams from remote sensing: NE–SW, WNW–ESE, N–S, ENE–WSW, NNE–SSW, NW–SE, and E–W. The research region is most affected by the NW–SE, ENE–WSW, E–W, and N–S trends, which are organized in decreasing order of magnitude, according to the rose diagram of the aeromagnetic maps. The applied approach can be employed to map potential mineral deposits in Saudi Arabia and similar zones around the globe.