MAPPING HYDROTHERMAL ALTERATION ZONE AS A PROBABLE SITE OF POTENTIAL MINERAL RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL EASTERN DESERT OF EGYPT USING REMOTELY-SENSED DATA

Hammama area is considered one of the most promising area for investment in what is called the 'Golden Triangle' in Egypt. It is located in the northern part of the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt that tectonically belongs to the Pan-African belt. Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) data were applied to detect a zone of high hydrothermal alteration as a probable site of mineralization. Several approaches include band ratio, mineral indices, Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and advanced spectral analysis were performed. The results clearly highlighted areas of high potential mineralization and detected significant key alteration minerals, chlorite, kaolinite, montmorillonite, illite, and hematite, revealing three alteration zones:proplytic, phyllic, and argillic. Field investigations along with previous works verified the results of ASTER data and indicated that copper, gold and iron are the most significant ore deposits in the region. Secondary copper minerals and gossan rich in iron are consistent with the mapped intense hydrothermal alteration zone.Detailed lineament analysis revealed that the hydrothermal alteration zone was most likely associated with fault or fracture zones. Overall results confirm that remote sensing and GIS techniques are invaluable tools for mineral exploration in arid regions.