Detection of zinc-lead mineralization and associated alteration in the Mehdiabad deposit, Yazd province, using ASTER and Landsat 8-OLI satellite images

The Mehdiabad zinc-lead deposit, which is located at the East of Mehriz city, is a carbonate-hosted ore deposit lying in the dolomitic rocks of Taft Formation. This deposit is composed of oxide-carbonate and sulfide ores. Different spectral processing techniques were applied to ASTER and Landsat 8-OLI multispectral images to detect different mineralization zones and associated alterations. In OLI image, Principal Component Analysis, Independent Component Analysis, and Band Combinations consisting of Band Ratios were successful for detecting mineralization zones and associated alterations. In ASTER image, the best results were obtained from Principal Component Analysis and Linear Spectral Unmixing methods. Based on the results of this study, zinc-lead mineralization occurred in the areas where gossan and siderite alteration zones overlap. The results of the spectral techniques were confirmed by field studies and X-Ray Diffraction analysis of the obtained samples.