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Multi-disciplinary ore deposit exploration in Sonqor, northwest Iran

Abstract Multi-disciplinary exploration methods are used to explore for possible ore deposits in the Sonqor area, Iran, which lies within the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, and contains significant iron, copper and gold mineralisation. Hydrothermal alteration was mapped using field, remotely sensed, geophysical and geochemical data as well as Landsat-8 Operational Land Imager, Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus, and two Advanced Space Borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer images. Image processing techniques, viz band ratio, principal component analysis (PCA), and various spectral analysis methods were applied to map the distribution of hydrothermally altered rocks (geochemical halos) associated with porphyry (e.g. Cu–Au) mineralisation. The geochemical halos enabled vectoring to mineralised zones with mapping of advance argillic, argillic, carbonates, Fe-oxides, phyllic, propylitic and silicification using minerals such as alunite (K/Na), muscovite, kaolinite, illite, chlorite, goethite, hematite, jarosite, calcite and silica/quartz. The band ratio combination of sensors for mapping altered areas show promising results, similar to other more advanced methods. PCA exposed variations in the spatial distribution of more hydroxyl-based minerals like alunite/jarosite, whereas the geophysical magnetic survey identified the main lineaments, possible faults and magmatic intrusion boundaries. While geochemical methods show the potential occurrence of elements like Fe, Au and Fe-bearing Ti in the southeast and southern parts, and skarn-type anomalies in the northern part of Sonqor, leaking of specific geochemical elements (such as Fe, Au and Fe-bearing Ti) produce false anomalies. Copper, Pb and Zn anomalies in the central part show the possibility of sulfide-based mineralisation. KEY POINTS Space-based satellite technologies were used to identify mineral prospects in the Sonqor area, within the iron, copper and gold-rich Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Iran. The Sonqor area, part of the Zagros Orogen, is within the extensive Alpine–Himalayan orogenic belt formed by collision of the Arabian continent with the Iranian microcontinent in the Late Cretaceous to Cenozoic. The western part of the Sonqor area has first rank Hg, Au, Ag, Ta and Sb anomalies with abundant detachment faults. Dacite domes with surrounding alteration have potential for Au epithermal mineralisation (Dashkasan type); the central part may yield Cu, Zn and Pb sulfide mineralisation. The Sonqor geological map suggests good potential for Au, Fe and Fe–Ti mineralisation at the contact between limestones in the eastern and southeastern parts, but greenschist and amphibolite facies metamorphism necessitates caution in interpretation of geochemical anomalies.