Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Remote Sensing and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Based Gold Related Alteration Zones Detection: Case Study (Um Balad area), North Eastern Desert, Egypt

  • Published:
Pure and Applied Geophysics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Um Balad area has a good potential for further gold exploration because of the existence of extensive and intense alteration zones. The use of Remote Sensing data supported by Airborne Gamma-Ray Spectrometry (AGRS) data analyses enabled the exploration of new gold occurrences in the alteration zones at the Um Balad area. False Color Composites (FCC), Color Ratio Composites (CRC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) techniques were integrated for delineating the contacts between the exposed rock units. The signature-based supervised classification techniques named Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) techniques were integrated for mapping the alteration minerals present in the gold-related alteration zones. The automatic lineament extraction technique is used as well. Airborne radiometric data were applied through the use of gamma-ray spectrometry; Potassium (K %), Equivalent Thorium (eTh ppm), Equivalent Uranium (eU ppm), and Total Count, as well as the parameters of hydrothermal alteration; F-parameter (F), and Th-Normalization (Kd, Ud) approaches. Besides, the ratio maps; eU-(eTh/3.5), eTh/K, eU/K, and eU/eTh maps were utilized for delineating the potassic and phyllic hydrothermal alteration. The alterations are confined to the volcanic and plutonic rocks depending on the lineament and fracture density among such rocks, in which the upcoming hydrothermal solutions follow the rock lineament paths and leaving marks of alteration zones and mineral specifications in these rocks. These altered minerals are potentially associated with valuable minerals as sulfides and gold precipitations in the altered areas. The remote sensing derived results show a good correlation with Airborne Gamma-Ray Spectrometry; in which analysis was accurate and helpful for mapping the lithological units, and detecting and mapping Gold related alteration zones. Consequently, these techniques are recommended for such studies in other areas.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
Fig. 16
Fig. 17
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
Fig. 20
Fig. 21
Fig. 22
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
Fig. 27

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abd El-Gawad, AE. (2008). Geology and Radioelements distribution in Gabal Monqul area, North Eastern Desert, Egypt. Unpublished M.Sc. Thesis, Faculty of science (Damietta), Mansoura University, pp 161

  • Abd El-Nabi, S.H., (1993). Airborne γ-ray spectrometric and magnetic anomalies associated with the Cu-Ni mineralization, Abu swayel area, South Eastern Desert, Egypt, Egypt. In: Geophy. Soc. of 11th Ann. Meet., pp. 67–84.

  • Abd El-Nabi, S. H. (2012). An analysis of airborne gamma ray spectrometric data of Gabal Umm Naggat Granitic Pluton, central Eastern Desert, Egypt. JAKU Earth Science, 23(2), 19–42. https://doi.org/10.4197/Ear.23-2.2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdeen, M. M., Allison, T. K., Abdelsalam, M. G., & Stern, R. J. (2001). Application of ASTER band-ratio images for geological mapping in arid regions; the Neoproterozoic Allaqi Suture, Egypt. Abstract with Program Geology Social America, 3(3), 289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Abrams, M. J., Brown, D., Lepley, L., & Sadowski, R. (1983). Remote sensing for porphyry copper deposits in southern Arizona. Economic Geology, 78, 591–604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abu-Alam, T., El Monsef, M. A., & Grosch, E. (2019). Shear-zone hosted gold mineralization of the Arabian Nubian Shield: De-volatilization processes across the greenschist-amphibolite-facies transition. In S. Ferrero, P. Lanari, P. Goncalves, & E. G. Grosch (Eds.), Metamorphic geology: Microscale to mountain belts (pp. 287–313). Geological Society. London, Special Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aero-Service. (1984). Final operational report of airborne magnetic/radiation survey in the Eastern Desert, Egypt. For the Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC), Aero-Service, Division, Western Geophysical Company of America USA Houston, Texas, six volumes.

  • ArcGIS v.10.5 Software. (2016). Geographic Information System: "New Esri ArcGIS Release Transforms Spatial Analytics". Esri.

  • Boardman, J.W. (1993). Ò Automating Spectral Un-mixing of AVIRIS DATA Using Geometry Concepts, Ó In: Summaries of the fourth annual JPL Airborne geoscience workshop, JPL Publ. 93–26, Vol. 1, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, pp. 11–14.

  • Botros, N. S. (2002a). Alteration zones: Are they a good target for gold deposits in Egypt? Arab Gulf Journal of Scientific Research, 20(4), 209–218.

    Google Scholar 

  • Botros, N. S. (2002b). Metallogeny of gold in relation to the evolution of the Nubian Shield in Egypt. Ore Geology Reviews, 19(3–4), 137–164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cainzos, R. L. P. (2001). Integração de dados geofísicos e geológicos de Cuba centro-oriental: Contribuições à cartografia e exploração mineral regional (p. 253). Instituto de Geociências, Universidade Estadual de Campinas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, S. P., Peterman, Z. E., & Heier, K. S. (1966). Abundance of uranium, thorium and potassium. Handbook of physical constants. Geological Society of America Memoir, 97, 521–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Efimov, A.V. (1978). Multiplikativnyj pokazatel dlja vydelenija endogennych rud po aerogammaspektrometriceskim dannym. In Metody Rudnoj Geofiziki, edited by Naucno-proizvodstven Oje objedinenie "Geofizika" Leningrad.

  • Franklin, J. M. (1996). Volcanic-associated massive sulphide base metals. In O. R. Eckstrand, W. D. Sinclair, & R. I. Thorpe (Eds.), Geology of Canadian mineral deposit types, no. 8 (pp. 158–183). Geological Survey of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Galbraith, J. H., & Saunders, D. F. (1983). Rock classification by characteristics of aerial gamma-ray measurements. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 18, 47–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-6742(83)90080-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, A. A., Berman, M., Switzer, P., & Craig, M. D. (1988). ÒA transform for ordering multispectral data in terms of image quality with implications for noise removal. Ó IEEE Transaction Geoscience Remote Sensor, 26(1), 65–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harraz, H. Z. (1999). Wall rock alteration, Atud gold mine, Eastern Desert, Egypt: processes and P-T-XCO2 conditions of metasomatism. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 28(3), 527–551.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hung, L. Q., Batelaan, O., & De Smedt, F. (2005). Lineament extraction and analysis, comparison of Landsat ETM and ASTER imagery. Case Study: Suoimuoi Tropical Karst Catchment, Vietnam. Remote Sensing for Environmental Monitoring, GIS Applications, and Geology, 15, 59830T-T59912.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IAEA (1991). Airborne gamma-ray spectrometer surveying. In Technical Report Series, no. 323. Vienna, Austria: International Atomic Energy Agency.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mahdy, M. A., Elkhatib, E. A., & Fathi, N. O. (2007). Cadmium, copper, nickel, and lead availability in biosolids-amended alkaline soils. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 1(4), 354–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohy, H. (2013). Application of remote sensing for gold exploration in the Fawakhir area, central Eastern Desert of Egypt. M.Sc. Thesis, Cairo University.

  • Monsef, M. A. E., Salem, I., Slobodník, M., & Ragab, A. (2018). Fluid evolution of Au-Cu zones in Um Balad area, North Eastern Desert of Egypt: Implications from mineral chemistry and fluid inclusions. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 143, 321–338.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oasis Montaj Programs. (2015). Geosoft mapping and processing system: Inc. Suit 500, Richmond St. West Toronto, ON Canada N5SIV6.

  • Pires, A. C. B. (1995). Identificaçãogeofísica de áreas de alteraçãohidrotermal, Crixás-Guarinos, Goiás. Rev. Bras. Geociências, 25, 61–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Poulsen, K. H., & Hannington, M. D. (1996). Volcanic-associated massive sulphide gold. In O. R. Eckstrand, W. D. Sinclair, & R. I. Thorpe (Eds.), Geology of Canadian mineral deposit types, no. 8 (pp. 183–196). Geological Survey of Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowan, L. C., Schmidt, R. G., & Mars, J. C. (2006). Distribution of hydrothermally altered rocks in the Reko Diq, Pakistan mineralized area based on spectral analysis of ASTER data. Remote Sensing of Environment, 104(1), 74–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salem, S. M., El Sharkawi, M. A., El-Alfy, M. Z., & Ahmed, S. E. (2018). The use of ASTER data and geochemical analyses for the exploration of gold at Samut area, South Eastern Desert of Egypt. Arabian Journal of Geosciences, 11, 541. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-018-3793-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salem, S. M., El Sharkawi, M. A., El-Alfy, M. Z., Soliman, N. M., & Ahmed, S. E. (2016). Exploration of gold occurrences in alteration zones at Dungash district, Southeastern Desert of Egypt using ASTER data and geochemical analyses. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 117, 389e400. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2016.01.030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, D. F., Branch, J. F., & Thompson, C. K. (1994). Tests of Australian aerial radiometric data for use in petroleum reconnaissance. Geophysics, 59, 411–419. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443603

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, D. F., Burson, K. R., Branch, J. F., & Thompson, C. K. (1993). Relation of thorium normalized surface and aerial radiometric data to subsurface petroleum accumulations. Geophysics, 58, 1417–1427. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1443357

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saunders, D. F., Terry, S. A., & Thompson, C. K. (1987). Test of national uranium resource evaluation gamma-ray spectral data in petroleum reconnaissance. Geophysics, 52(11), 1547–1556. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1442271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schowengerdt, R. A. (2007). Remote sensing: Models and methods for image processing (3rd ed.). Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-369407-8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shives, R. B. K., Ford, K. L., & Charbonneau, B. W. (1995). Applications of gamma ray spectrometric/magnetic/VLF-EM surveys workshop manual: Geol. Surv. Can. Open File 3061.

  • Shives, R. B. K., Charbonneau, B. W., & Ford, K. L. (2000). Detecting ore using GRS and K alteration. Geophysics, 65(6), 2007. https://doi.org/10.1190/1.1444884

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SMW Gold Engineering Ltd. (2009) Annual information report on the results of works on Um Balad licensed area during January 2008—May 2009 year. http://www.smwgold.com. Accessed 20 Jun 2015.

  • Sultan, M., & Arvidson, R. E. (1986). Mapping of serpentinites in the Eastern Desert of Egypt by using Landsat Thematic Mapper data. The Journal of Geology, 14(12), 995–999.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • The Egyptian Geological Survey and Mining Authority (EGSMA). (1983). Geologic map of The Gebel El-URF Quadrangle, Egypt. EGSMA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yujun, Z., Jianmin, Y., & Fojun, Y. (2007). The potentials of multi-spectral remote sensing techniques for mineral prognostication—taking Mongolian Oyu Tolgoi Cu-Au deposit as an example. Earth Science Frontiers, 14(5), 63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, X., Pazner, M., & Duke, N. (2007). Lithologic and mineral information extraction for gold exploration using ASTER data in the south Chocolate Mountains (California). Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 62, 271–282.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y. E., Xiong, S., & Chen, T. (1998). Application of airborne gamma ray spectrometry to geosciences in China. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 49(1–2), 139–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Aswan, Egypt

    Mahmoud A. Hegab

Authors
  1. Mahmoud A. Hegab
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mahmoud A. Hegab.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hegab, M.A. Remote Sensing and Gamma-Ray Spectrometry Based Gold Related Alteration Zones Detection: Case Study (Um Balad area), North Eastern Desert, Egypt. Pure Appl. Geophys. 178, 3909–3931 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02865-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00024-021-02865-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation