Regional gold potential mapping in Kelantan (Malaysia) using probabilistic based models and GIS

Abstract

Abstract The aim of this study is to test and compare twoprobabilistic based models (frequency ratio and weightsof-evidence) with regard to regional gold potential mappingat Kelantan, Malaysia. Until now these models havenot been used for the purpose of mapping gold potentialareas in Malaysia. This study analyzed the spatial relationshipbetween gold deposits and geological factors such aslithology, faults, geochemical and geophysical data in geographicalinformation system (GIS) software. About eight(8) gold deposits and five (5) related factors are identifiedand quantified for their spatial relationships. Then, all factorswere combined to generate a predictive gold potentialmap. The predictive maps were then validated by comparingthem with known gold deposits using receiver operatingcharacteristics (ROC) and “area under the curve”(AUC) graphs. The results of validation showed accuraciesof 80% for the frequency ratio and 74% for the weightsof-evidence model, respectively. The results demonstratedthe usefulness of frequency ratio and weights-of-evidencemodeling techniques in mineral exploration work to discoverunknown gold deposits in Kelantan, Malaysia.