Exploring gold mineralization in altered ultramafic rocks in south Abu Marawat, Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Gold mining is an important strategic sector. The search for mineral reserves is moving deeper as more accessible shallow resources are discovered. Geophysical techniques are now being employed more frequently in mineral exploration because they are quick and can provide crucial subsurface information for discovering potential metal deposits, particularly in high-relief and inaccessible places. The potential for gold in a large-scale gold mining (LSGM) locality in the South Abu Marawat area is investigated using a geological field investigation that includes rock sampling, structural measurements, detailed petrography, reconnaissance geochemistry, and thin section analysis, integrated with various transformation filters of surface magnetic data (analytic signal, normalized source strength, tilt angle), contact occurrence density maps, and tomographic modelling for the subsurface magnetic susceptibilities. The benefits of remote sensing (RS) and its technology in mapping detailed rock differentiation, and characterizing physical objects on the land surface using various spatial, and spectral resolution datasets are integrated. Both aeromagnetic and measured land magnetic profiles are used to investigate the area’s present geological conditions and possible future mining localities. Results indicate that gold mineralization in the study area is linked to the altered ultramafic zones that are associated with faulting and shearing and characterized by a low magnetic susceptibility anomaly.