Geological mapping and mineral prospectivity using remote sensing and GIS in parts of Hamissana, Northeast Sudan

Abstract

In recent years, various geological activities and different mineral prospecting and exploration programs have been intensified along the Red Sea hills in order to elucidate the geological maps and to evaluate the mineral potentials. This study is therefore aimed at testing the viability of using remote sensing and geographic information system (GIS) techniques for geological mapping and prospecting for gold mineralization in the area. The study area is located in northeast Sudan and covers an area of about 1379 km2. Different digital image processing techniques were applied to Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager image in order to increase the discrimination between various lithological units and to delineate wall rock alteration which represents target zones for gold mineralization. Image sharpening was performed to enhance the spatial resolution of the images for more detailed information. Contrast stretching was applied after the various digital processing procedures to produce more interpretable images. The principal component analysis transformations yielded saturated images and resulted in more interpretable images than the original data. Several ratio images were prepared, combined together and displayed in RGB color composite ratio images. This process revealed the existence of alteration zones in the study area. These zones extend from the northeast to the southwest in the acid meta-volcanic and silica barite rocks. The enhanced satellite images were implemented in the GIS environment to facilitate the final production of the geological map at scale 1:400,000. X-ray fluorescence analyses prove that selected samples taken from the wall rock alteration zones are gold-bearing.

Multisensor Satellite Data and Field Studies for Unravelling the Structural Evolution and Gold Metallogeny of the Gerf Ophiolitic Nappe, Eastern Desert, Egypt

“…The Red Sea mountains share the same linear features as mineralization zones [93][94][95]. Abd El-Wahed et al [13] suggested that the gold mineralization-related shear zones in the Wadi Hodein area north of the present study are controlled basically by the major thrust faults and fractures which act as the favored channels for fluid migration.…”

Method for Oil and Gas Estimates of Exploration Sites via Geological, Parametric and Satellite Information

“…Крок 4: Формування ізольованих суб'єктивних імовірностей нафтогазоносності ділянок. Багато дослідників відзначають існування причинно-наслідкових зв'язків між оптичними, геохімічними та іншими властивостями ділянки надр та її нафтогазовим потенціалом (див., наприклад, (Трофимов та ін., 2012;Al Makki Mohamed et al, 2021; i j -ої ділянки сукупністю з K визначених експертом-геологом оцінок імовірностей:…”

“…Пошук родовищ вуглеводнів традиційно передбачає проведення комплексу геолого-геофізичних, геоморфологічних і геохімічних досліджень (Трофимов та ін., 2012). В останні два десятиліття до переліку пошукових робіт все частіше включаються аерокосмічні дослідження, перевагами яких є оперативність, здатність дистанційного обстеження важкодоступних територій, можливість охоплення великих площ (Трофимов та ін.,2012;Al Makki Mohamed et al, 2021;Лялько та ін., 2012).…”

An integrated remote sensing, petrology, and field geology analyses for Neoproterozoic basement rocks in some parts of the southern Egyptian-Nubian Shield

“…Remote sensing is considered to be the most effective and useful technique for identifying lithological units. Satellite images contain information on the target's electromagnetic waves, and have the advantage of being multiscale, multitemporal and of high spatial resolution, particularly in areas that are difficult to access, such as highly weathered and tectonically complex arid regions 14 – 16 . Various approaches have been developed to identify lithological units for geological mapping.…”