Application of SAM and MTMF Methods in Differentiating Hydrothermal Alterations Related to Metallic Mineralization Potential, Nignan Exploration Area

Abstract

Remote sensing data, owing to their extensive spatial coverage, spectral diversity, and integration capabilities, are widely recognized as one of the most effective tools for mineral prospecting. Given that many large mineral deposits are associated with altered zones, identifying these alterations can serve as a valuable guide for mineral exploration. In this study, satellite imagery from ASTER and Sentinel-2A was utilized to detect dolomitic, silicic, iron oxide, sericite, and argillic alterations. To minimize atmospheric effects, radiometric corrections were applied to the data. Subsequently, spectral analyses were conducted using advanced techniques such as the Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), Matched Filter (MF), and Mixture Tuned Matched Filter (MTMF) methods. These approaches were employed to enhance the accuracy of alteration mapping. The results obtained from these methods were consistent with those derived from band ratio techniques and false-color composite imagery, further validating the findings. The northern and southern regions of the study area were identified as highly promising zones for mineralization. A strong correlation was observed between the identified alterations and geological lineaments, indicating significant mineral potential in these areas. To further refine the assessment of this potential, it is recommended that future studies integrate ground-based surveys and geochemical analyses. Such complementary approaches would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the mineralization processes and improve the precision of resource estimation.