Revealing porphyry mineralization Cu-Au signatures via analyzing aeromagnetic and remote sensing data of Dara-Monqul, area Egypt

Abstract

Abstract In this paper, an efficient strategy based-first link between aeromagnetic and remote sensing data is presented to delineate the signatures associated with mineralization, especially the porphyry-style one in Dara-Monqul area, Northeastern Desert, Egypt. Initially, aeromagnetic derivative filters like analytical signal (AS), first vertical derivative (FVD) and Euler deconvolution revealed the NW-SE as a preferred direction for mineral occurrence, with other traces of NE-SW, NNE-SSW and N-S trends. The depths of these trends range from 0 to 0.8 km. Exploration targeting (CET) grid and porphyry analysis had an operative role in mapping the structure complexity, Dykes and Porphyry features. Lithological discrimination and hydrothermal alteration (ferrous silicates, hydroxyl, phyllic and potassic) have been mapped by applying various image processing techniques of Remote sensing data, including False Color Composite (FCC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Independent Component Analysis (ICA), Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), and band ratio (BR). Regarding these results, two distinct zones occupied Monqul and Dara regions have been indicated with high potentiality mineralization (Cu-Au), with constructing a composite potential mineralization (CPM) map. Field observation and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have been implemented to verify the exact locations and analyze the mineral chemistry of gangue and ore minerals within the two promised zones.