Integration of ASTER and geophysical data for delineating potential mineralization zones in Dungash-Atud area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Dungash-Atud area, located in the southeastern Egyptian Desert, is intensively distinguished by gold mineralization and associated mineral deposits. This area was studied using the integrated analysis and interpretation of ASTER, aeromagnetic, and gamma-ray spectrometric data. For ASTER, different approaches of image processing, such as false color composite (FCC), ASTER-TIR indices, principal component analysis (PCA), and spectral mapping, have been used to determine the desired information on the geology, lithology reclassification, and the existing minerals, particularly older and younger granites, basic, and ultrabasic rocks. Also, the alteration imagery maps of different minerals, sericite, chlorite, illite, kaolinite, calcite, epidote, and quartz, are obtained and classified, in addition to Mafic and Quartz Index. The processed and interpreted aeromagnetic data helped effectively for the detection of …