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In this research, airborne geophysical and remote sensing datasets were integrated for gold potentiality mapping (GPM) over the Atalla area in Central Eastern Desert, Egypt. Utilizing aeromagnetic data, detailed structural complexity maps were constructed using the center for exploration targeting (CET) procedure. Then, spectrometric gamma-ray data primarily located hydrothermally altered tracts with discriminating various rock units. The latter are precisely outlined by implementing various techniques (false-color composite (FCC), band ratio (BR), relative absorption band depth (RBD), directed principal component analysis (DPCA), and constrained energy minimization (CEM)) to ASTER, Sentinel 2 and ALOS PRISM datasets, with reference to the geological maps. The study exhibits that gold mineralization is structurally controlled by NW-SE direction. The findings of structural complexity and hydrothermal alteration (argillic, advanced argillic, phyllic, and propylitic) were used as weighted inputs for contouring gold potentiality. The resultant GPM accentuated five gold-promising zones; two are confirmed via locations of ancient gold mines, while the remaining three zones are strongly recommended for their gold potentiality.

A B S T R A C TLocalization of probable gold mineralization zones in a selected part of the central Eastern Desert of Egypt has been executed by mapping lithology, structures and hydrothermal alteration zones. In this regard, both aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric data have been utilized in the analysis; by making use of some enhancement techniques such as first vertical derivative, analytic signal and both Center for Exploration Targeting (CET) grid and porphyry. Also, ratio and ternary radiometric maps have been launched to aid in the interpretation process.The results indicated that the study area is dominant by NW, NNW, NNE, WNW, NE, E-W and N-S structural directions. The NW-SE was the most important one and considered as the preferred orientation of ore deposits. Favorable regions of ore deposits were mapped and correlated well with known gold occurrences in the study area beside predicting new zones of mineralization. Analysis of aeroradiometric maps facilitates the correlation and delineation of lithological units based on the concentration of radioelements and ratios. Also, A number of hydrothermal alteration zones were mapped within younger granite, Hammamat felsites and Metasediments. Finally, A composite map consists of geology, structures and hydrothermal altered zones was generated using ArcGIS. Eight known locations of gold mineralization were investigated on this map and also new sites were suggested to be favorable locations for mineralization emplacement.

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