Integrating the remote sensing and aeromagnetic data to delineate the structural elements and mineralization zones in Safaga area, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Mapping the structural lineaments and associated mineralization zones represents an essential step for exploration and extracting new sources of minerals required for industrial purposes and economic growth. The current study aims to deduce the structural lineaments and possible associated mineralization, which represent promising zones for mineral exploration. Integrating the remote sensing with aeromagnetic data represents an advanced approach for delineating the structural lineaments and mineral prospecting. The remote sensing data including Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 were used to produce an update geologic map and mineralized zones. Where the radar data of Sentinel-1 was used to extract the surface structural lineaments, which strike in the NW-SE, NNW-SSE, N-S and NE-SW. Besides, residual magnetic anomalies located the subsurface sources of the magnetic anomalies, whereas the edge detection method clearly outlined the edges of these subsurface magnetic sources. Moreover, the magnetic Euler deconvolution and structural complexity determined trends and depths of subsurface structural lineaments. The structural lineaments delineated by the remote sensing techniques quite match with those delineated by the magnetic data analysis. The integration between the remote sensing and aeromagnetic data can be helpful to detect the promising mineralization zones.