Gold Mineralization Potential Assessment Using Multi-Spectral Remote Sensing Data Integration and Spectral Processing in the Basiran Exploration Area, South Khorasan, Iran

Gold mineralization is commonly related to hydrothermal systems developed in magmatic and tectonic environments. Porphyry Cu-Au and epithermal Au deposits are among the most important metallogenic systems worldwide, where hydrothermal alteration zones, structural features, and lithological characteristics provide essential exploration indicators. Remote sensing techniques have become effective tools in mineral exploration due to their capability to detect spectral responses of alteration minerals and provide regional-scale geological information. The Basiran exploration area is located in South Khorasan Province, eastern Iran, within the southeastern part of the Lut Block. The area is characterized by extensive volcanic and intrusive activities, fault systems, and hydrothermal alteration zones, which indicate favorable conditions for metallic mineralization. This study aims to evaluate gold mineralization potential using integrated multispectral remote sensing data including ASTER, Landsat-۸ OLI, and Sentinel-۲ MSI. Satellite images were processed through radiometric and atmospheric corrections, false color composite analysis, band ratio techniques, spectral indices calculation, hydrothermal alteration mapping, and structural lineament extraction. ASTER SWIR bands were applied for detection of clay and hydroxyl-bearing alteration minerals, while Landsat-۸ OLI and Sentinel-۲ data were used for lithological discrimination and iron oxide identification. The extracted lineaments were analyzed to determine structural controls associated with mineralization. The results indicate that alteration anomalies are spatially correlated with volcanic units, intrusive bodies, and major fault systems. The dominant lineament trends are NW-SE and NE-SW, consistent with regional tectonic structures of eastern Iran. Integration of multispectral remote sensing data with geological and structural information successfully identifies prospective zones for further gold exploration. The results demonstrate that remote sensing data integration provides a rapid, cost-effective, and reliable approach for preliminary mineral exploration in arid regions such as the Lut Block.

کلیدواژه ها:

Gold exploration ، Remote sensing ، ASTER ، Landsat-۸ OLI ، Sentinel-۲ MSI ، Hydrothermal alteration ، Mineral prospectivity ، Lut Block