Remote sensing mapping of structural and hydrothermal alteration in the mougueur inlier, Eastern high atlas, Morocco

Abstract

Abstract Located north of the town of Gouramma, the Mougueur inlier in the eastern High Atlas of Morocco a part of the Hercynian chain of the Paleozoic Era. It is known for its richness in carbonate vein mineralization (e.g., siderite, ankerite) and Zn–Pb (± Fe, Cu, and Mg) association. The current research integrated remote sensing datasets (e.g., ASTER and Landsat OLI), field observations and petrographic investigations to explore structural and hydrothermal alteration zones linked to the mineralization. Our results revealed that the key tectonic structures trend NE to E–W, control the distribution of mineralization in the Mougueur Inleir and meso-cenozoic cover. Hydrothermal alteration mapping identified abundant iron-bearing minerals and quartz, closely associated with fault zones sush as Tit N’Ali, Tijane, Talharit, and Tamelahl. A spatial overlay analysis of alteration indices, lineaments, geological field surveys shows that anomaly zones correlate strongly with known mineralized structures, suggesting that mineralization is primarily structurally controlled. This integrated methodology demonstrates the power of remote sensing techniques for identifying potential exploration targets and offers a promising tool for future mineral prospecting in similar terrains.