article · Journal of Spatial Science
The eastern Kerdous region in Morocco displays polymetallic hydrothermal activity linked to an ancient paleorelief setting. A Mineral Potential Map was produced by integrating airborne HyMap hyperspectral data with fuzzy logic modelling. To build this model, twenty thematic layers were generated using specialised image processing methods, including Relative Absorption Band Depth, Directed Principal Component Analysis, Line Density, and Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering. This analytical workflow successfully revealed three previously unidentified prospective mineral zones. The predictions generated by the remote sensing data were subsequently verified on the ground through direct fieldwork, petrographic study, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The investigation confirms the utility of HyMap imagery for mapping potential resources across remote and inaccessible terrains in the western Anti-Atlas belt.
Locating valuable mineral deposits in rugged or remote landscapes is typically expensive and logistically difficult. By demonstrating that airborne hyperspectral imagery reliably detects prospective targets that hold up under laboratory and field testing, this approach offers a more efficient path for early geological exploration. It enables surveying teams to pinpoint high-probability areas before committing major resources to ground operations.
This field-tested approach is relevant to mineral exploration companies and geological surveys targeting base metals and polymetallic deposits. Having been verified through ground sampling and laboratory analysis, the workflow is at an applied stage and ready to be used in regional targeting programmes. It could help commercial operators reduce exploration costs and risk by narrowing broad exploration licences down to specific drilling targets in rugged terrains.
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Eastern Kerdous demonstrates a polymetallic hydrothermal activity due its association with a paleorelief area. This study focuses on generating a Mineral Potential Map based on Fuzzy Logic Modelling and HyMap-Based input layers. The Relative Absorption Band Depth, Directed Principal Component Analysis, Line Density, and Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering techniques were implemented to perform 20 thematic layers. As a result, three new prospective zones were identified. Fieldwork, petrography, and XRD analysis verified the remote sensing results. Finally, this investigation highlights the significant potential of HyMap imagery for mineral exploration in inaccessible and remote parts of the western Anti-Atlas belt.
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DOI: 10.1080/14498596.2023.2172085
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