Multi-Sensor Satellite Remote-Sensing Data for Exploring Carbonate-Hosted Pb-Zn Mineralization: Akhlamad Area, Razavi Khorasan, North East Iran

Abstract

The exploration of Pb-Zn mineralization in carbonate complexes during field campaign is a challenging process that consumes high expenses and time to discover high prospective zones for a detailed exploration stage. In this study, multi-sensor remote-sensing imagery from Landsat-8, Sentinel-2, and ASTER were utilized for Pb-Zn mineralization prospectivity mapping in the Akhlamad carbonate complex area, Razavi Khorasan, NE Iran. Due to the presence of carbonate formations and various evidence of Pb-Zn mineralization, this area was selected. Band composition, band ratio, principal component analysis (PCA), and SAM techniques for mapping alteration minerals as well as lineament analysis were implemented. Subsequently, a fuzzy logic model for identifying the prospective zones of Pb-Zn mineralization using multi-sensor remote-sensing satellite images was designed. The weight of each exploratory layer was determined using the fuzzy hierarchical method and the integration process of the information layers was performed using fuzzy operators. Finally, the existing mineral indications were used to evaluate and validate the obtained mineral potential map. The outcome of this investigation suggested several high-potential zones for Pb-Zn exploration in the study area.