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Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
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Mapping hydrothermal alteration zones and lineaments associated

with orogenic gold mineralization using ASTER data: A case
study from the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, Iran
Abdollah Sheikhrahimi a, Amin Beiranvand Pour b,⇑, Biswajeet Pradhan c,d,
Basem Zoheir e,f
a
Department of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System (GIS), Faculty of Planning and
Environmental Sciences, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
b
Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI) Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon 21990, Republic of Korea
c
Centre for Advanced Modelling and Geospatial Information Systems (CAMGIS), Faculty of Engineering and
Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, 2007 New South Wales, Australia
d
Department of Energy and Mineral Resources Engineering, Choongmu-gwan, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro,
Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
e
Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Benha University, 13518 Benha, Egypt
f
Institute of Geosciences, University of Kiel, Ludewig-Meyn Str. 10, 24118 Kiel, Germany

Received 10 October 2018; received in revised form 12 December 2018; accepted 22 January 2019
Available online 31 January 2019

Abstract

The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is considered as an important region for gold exploration in the western sector of Iran. Its moun-
tainous topography and unpaved routes make its study challenging for researchers and raise the costs for mining companies strating new
exploration plans. Gold mineralization mainly occurs as irregular to lenticular sulfide-bearing quartz veins along shear zones in deformed
mafic to intermediate metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. In this investigation, ASTER data are used for mapping hydrothermal
alteration minerals and to better discriminate geological structural features associated with orogenic gold occurrences in the area. Image
transformation techniques such as specialized band ratioing and Principal Component Analysis are used to delineate lithological units
and alteration minerals. Supervised classification techniques, namely Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM) and Spectral Information Diver-
gence (SID) are applied to detect subtle differences between indicator alteration minerals associated with ground-truth gold locations
in the area. The directional filtering technique is applied to help in tracing along the strike the different linear structures. Results demon-
strate that the integration of image transformation techniques and supervised classification of ASTER data with fieldwork and geochem-
ical exploration studies has a great efficiency in targeting new prospects of gold mineralization in the the SSZ. The approach used in this
research provides a fast, cost-efficient means to start a comprehensive geological and geochemical exploration programs in the study area
and elsewhere in similar regions.
Ó 2019 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Keywords: ASTER; Saqqez; PCA; SAM; SID; Alteration zones; Lineaments; Gold exploration

1. Introduction

⇑ Corresponding author. Orogenic gold is considered one of the most important

E-mail addresses: amin.beiranvand@kopri.re.kr (A.B. Pour), types of gold deposits associated with metamorphic belts,
Biswajeet.Pradhan@uts.edu.au (B. Pradhan). which have been formed during orogenic processes. The

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asr.2019.01.035
0273-1177/Ó 2019 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
3316 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
potential environment for this type of mineralization is
related to major fault systems and folding belts, which
occurred in the active margins of Precambrian blocks
(Makoundi et al., 2014; Goldfarb et al., 2014; Pour et al.,
2016). The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) of Iran, as a
Phanerozoic metamorphic belts (Sheikholeslami, 2002), is
an active structural region between the Zagros thrust in
the SW and the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc in the
NE, spreading from the SE to the NW of Iran (Fig. 1)
(Aliyari et al., 2012; Shahrestani and Mokhtari, 2017).
Recently, this area is considered as high potential for gold
mineralization and received considerable local and interna-
tional interest (Wilkinson and Kesler, 2009). Several gold
occurrences such as Kharapeh, Alut, Qarehchar, Qabaqlu-
jeh, Kervian, Hamzehqarenein and Qolqolah have been
reported in the SSZ using geochemical analysis techniques
(Shahrestani and Mokhtari, 2017). Application of conven-
tional geochemical techniques for prospecting high poten-
tial zones for gold mineralization in the SSZ is
challenging because of the rugged topography and lack
of paved route in the area. Therefore, remote sensing tech-
niques are especially useful for gold prospecting in the SSZ,
where remoteness and extreme topographical conditions
constrain direct survey during reconnaissance stages of
the regional exploration program.
Hydrothermal alteration mineral detection and struc-
tural geology mapping is one of the most conspicuous
applications of remote sensing satellite data for regional
ore exploration programs during the last decade (Zhang
and Pazner, 2007; Gersman et al., 2008; Zoheir and
Emam, 2012, 2014; Pournamdary et al., 2014a, 2014b;
Gabr et al., 2015; Pour and Hashim, 2014, 2015; Pour
et al., 2016; Amer et al., 2016; Eldosouky et al., 2017;
Fig. 1. The location of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) and the Saqqez area in the Kurdistan province, NW Iran.
Noda and Yamaguchi, 2017; Ayoobi and Tangestani,
2017; Testa et al., 2018; Pour et al., 2018a, 2018b, 2018c).
Numerous ore deposits such as orogenic gold, porphyry
copper, massive sulphide, epithermal gold, podiform chro-
mite, uranium, magnetite and iron oxide copper-gold
(IOCG) deposits have been successfully prospected and
discovered using remote sensing satellite imagery in metal-
logenic provinces and frontier areas around the world (Di
Tommaso and Rubinstein, 2007; Rajesh, 2008, Gabr
et al., 2010; Rajendran et al., 2011, 2012; Naghadehi
et al., 2015; Pour et al., 2016; Amer et al., 2016; Salem
et al., 2016; Safari et al., 2017; Rajendran and Nasir,
2017; Pour et al., 2018a, 2018b, 2018c).
The Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and
Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) is a high spatial, spectral
and radiometric resolution multispectral remote sensing
sensor (Abrams, 2000; Abrams et al., 2004), which is
appropriate for regional geology mapping and mineral
exploration. The ASTER remote sensing sensor consists
of three separate subsystems with a total of 14 spectral
bands, namely: (i) the visible–near infrared (VNIR) subsys-
tem contains three bands (0.52–0.86 lm) with 15 m spatial
resolution; (ii) the shortwave infrared (SWIR) subsystem
has six bands (1.60–2.43 lm) with 30 m spatial resolution;
and (iii) the thermal infrared (TIR) obtains five bands
(8.12–11.65 lm) with 90 m spatial resolution (Fujisada,
1995; Yamaguchi et al., 1999, 2001). ASTER swath width
is 60 km that each individual scene is cut to a
60
60 km2 area (Fujisada, 1995; Yamaguchi et al., 1999).
Iron oxide/hydroxide minerals, i.e., limonite, goethite,
jarosite, and hematite can be mapped using the VNIR
bands of ASTER remote sensing data due to charge transfer
and crystal-field processes in the VNIR region
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
(0.4–1.1 lm) (Hunt 1977; Hunt and Ashley, 1979; Noda and
Yamaguchi, 2017). Spectral bands of ASTER in the SWIR
region (1.60–2.5 lm) have great ability to map hydrother-
mal alteration mineral zones associated with ore mineraliza-
tion and alteration of the rocks surface because of
vibrational processes of fundamental absorptions of Al–
O–H, Mg–O–H, Si–O–H, and CO3 groups in this region
(Huntington 1996; Mars and Rowan 2010; Mars and
Rowan, 2011; Bedini, 2011; Pour et al., 2013; Gabr et al.,
2015; Salem et al., 2016; Amer et al., 2016; Safari et al.,
2017; Rajendran and Nasir, 2017). Moreover, the ASTER
TIR bands (10–14) could be used for mapping silicate and
carbonate lithological units attributable to spectral emissiv-
ity features of quartz and calcite in the TIR region
(Yamaguchi et al., 2001; Ninomiya et al., 2005).
The Saqqez area of Kurdistan province (46° to 46°0.300
east longitude and 36° to 36°0.300 north latitude) is located
in the SSZ, NW Iran (Fig. 1). It is a high potential zone for
orogenic gold mineralization due to infiltration of granitoid
masses related to Precambrian and Mesozoic into Archaic
metamorphosed stones and Paleozoic carbonate–debris
coverage (Fig. 2). A comprehensive remote sensing investi-
gation has not been reported for gold mineral exploration
and prospecting in the SSZ especially for Saqqez plot,
yet. Accordingly, the objectives of this study are: (1) to
map indicator hydrothermal alteration minerals and geo-
logical structural features such faults and fracture (linea-
ments) associated with orogenic gold mineralization in
the Saqqez plot of the SSZ using ASTER satellite data;
Fig. 2. Geological map of the Saqqez area (modified from Geological Survey of Iran (GSI), 2003).
3317
(2) to prospect high potential zones of gold mineralization
by applying the integration of robust image processing
techniques to ASTER spectral and thermal bands; and
(3) to establish a cost-effective exploration approach for
prospecting orogenic gold mineralization in the SSZ and
other remote regions around the world.
2. Geologic setting of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone
The Zagros orogen is part of the extensive Alpine–
Himalayan orogenic belt that formed during the collision
of the northeastern margin of the Arabian continental plate
with the central Iranian microcontinent in the Cretaceous-
Cenozoic (Berberian and King, 1981; Alavi, 1994; Mohajjel
et al., 2003). The northwestern boundary of the Zagros
orogen is chosen to be the East Anatolian (EA) strike-
slip fault in southeastern Turkey, and the southeastern
boundary of the Zagros orogen is the Oman Line (OL),
respectively (Alavi, 2007). This orogen consists of three dis-
tinctive parallel tectonic zones from the northeast to south-
west, including (1) the Cenozoic Urumieh-Dokhtar
magmatic (UDMA); (2) the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ),
and (3) the Zagros fold belt (Alavi, 1994, 2007; Mohajjel
et al., 2003; Agard et al., 2005; Sheikholeslami et al.,
2008; Niroomand et al., 2011). Fig. 3 shows the geotectonic
schematic model for the evolution of the SSZ during
Permian-Triassic to Oligocene-Miocene.
The Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone covers a region of more
polyphase deformation, the latest reflecting the collision
3318 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332

Fig. 3. Geotectonic model for the evolution of the northern part of the Sanandaj-Sirajan Zone (SSZ) (modified after Alavi, 1994; 2004; Agard et al., 2005;
Niroomand et al., 2011). A – Neo-Tethys ocean opening in the Permian; B – Subduction of Neo-Tethys oceanic crust started in the early Mesozoic, and the
main part was subducted under central Iran by the end of the Cretaceous. Arc-related subduction was developed in the northern part of the SSZ; C – Final
collision of the Arabian plate and central Iran in the Oligocene-Miocene (Late Cenozoic).

of the Arabian continent and the central Iranian microcon-
tinent, and subsequent southward propagation of the fold-
thrust belt (Fig. 3) (Alavi, 1994; Mohajjel et al., 2003,
Sarkarinejad and Alizadeh, 2009). It is a major NW-SE
trending structural zone that extends for more than
1500 km length and approximately 200 km width to the
northeast of the Zagros Thrust System (ZTS) and contains
the metamorphic core of the Zagros continental collision
zone in western Iran (Baharifar et al., 2004; Mohajjel
et al., 2003; Sarkarinejad and Alizadeh, 2009). According
to Niroomand et al. (2011) and Almasi et al. (2017), the
Cretaceous metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks of
the Sardasht-Piranshahr-Saqqez zone host the orogenic
gold deposits of the northwestern SSZ. These units under-
went greenschist facies metamorphism.
Saqqez region is located at the north-eastern edge of the
altered belt of Sanandaj-Sirjan (see Figs. 1 and 2). It is the
intersection point of this zone with a structural zone of
Khoy-Mahabad and Alborz-Azarbaijan (Aliyari et al.,
2012, 2009), and hosts several gold-reach/auriferous zones
such as Qolqola, Miredeh and Qabaghloja (Shahrestani
and Mokhtari, 2017). Mineral deposits mostly consist of
irregular to lenticular veins in altered rocks. In the Qolqo-
leh, Qarehchar, Kervian, Qabaqloujeh and Hamzeh-
Gharanein gold deposits, quartz-sulfide veins and veinlets
mainly occur along shear zones in extremely altered and
deformed Upper Cretaceous, mafic to intermediate
metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks (Heidari et al.,
2006; Aliyari et al., 2009, 2012; Shahrestani and
Mokhtari, 2017).
3. Materials and methods
3.1. ASTER data
In this study, a cloud-free ASTER level 1T (AST_
L1T_00309062002075134_20150424203448_10828) cover-
ing Saqqez plot was obtained from the USGS EROS
(https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov), acquisition date is
2002/09/06 (Path/Row:168/35). The ASTER Level 1T (Pre-
cision Terrain Corrected Registered At-Sensor Radiance)
data contains calibrated at sensor radiance. It corresponds
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
with the ASTER Level 1B, which has been geometrically
corrected and rotated to a north up UTM projec-
tion (https://lpdaac.usgs.gov/dataset_discovery/aster/aster_
products_table/ast_l1t). The image used in this study has
been pre-georeferenced to UTM zone 38 North projection
with the WGS-84 datum.
3.2. Image processing techniques
3.2.1. Pre-processing of the ASTER data
Preprocessing of ASTER data is prerequisite before
analysis. In this study, Crosstalk correction was performed
on the ASTER dataset using crosstalk correction software
(CCS) provided by the Earth remote sensing data center
(ERSDAC). This correction was performed to reduce the
SWIR crosstalk effect, which is caused by the dispersion
of incident light of the band 4 detector to other detectors
in the SWIR region (Iwasaki and Tonooka, 2005; Mars
and Rowan, 2010). In addition, the VNIR and SWIR
regions of dataset were also radiometrically calibrated
using the Internal Average Relative Reflection (IARR)
method. It has the capability of normalizing image to a
scene average spectrum and is suitable for minerals map-
ping purposes in arid and semi-arid regions (Ben-Dor
et al., 1995). The ASTER 30-m resolution SWIR data were
layer stacked and re-sampled to correspond to the VNIR
15-m spatial dimensions. The nearest neighbor re-
sampling method was applied to preserve the original pixel
values in the re-sampled images. In order to avoid the effect
of sparse vegetation in the study area on image processing
results, a vegetation mask (given zero value) was applied.
In this study, ASTER datasets were processed using the
ENVI (Environment for Visualizing Images) version 5.2
and Arc GIS version 10.3 software packages.
3.2.2. Image processing algorithms
3.2.2.1. Image transformation. The main purpose of the
methodology is to apply image processing techniques that
are capable of detecting subtle hydrothermal alteration
minerals and lithological units and mapping structure ele-
ments using ASTER VNIR+SWIR and TIR data. Image
transforms are commonly used to reduce the dimensional-
ity of the input dataset and processing time, focus process-
ing on the information of interest within the input file and
removing noise. Each output band of a transformed image
is a linear combination of every input image, thus helping
to identify those spectral bands that are most important
for finding targets of interest, or which bands contribute
the most noise (Research Systems, Inc. 2008).
To reduce the effects of topography and enhancing the
spectral differences between bands, band ratioing technique
was selected in this analysis. It is a technique where the dig-
ital number value of one band is divided by the digital
number value of another band. Band ratios are very useful
for highlighting hydrothermal alteration minerals (Abrams
et al., 1983). Dividing one spectral band by another
3319
produces an image that provides relative band intensities,
this is able to minimize the illumination differences due to
topography (Colby, 1991). Therefore, this technique is par-
ticularly applicable to highly exposed areas and rugged ter-
rains in arid and semi-arid environments. Moreover, Red-
Green-Blue (RGB) color composites technique could be
easily applied to band ratios to produce image-map of
lithological units for the study area.
The principal component analysis (PCA) transforma-
tion was used to produce uncorrelated output bands, seg-
regate noise components and reduce the dimensionality of
data sets. This is done by determining a new set of
orthogonal axes that have their origin at the data mean
and that is rotated so the data variance is maximized.
PC bands are linear combinations of the original spectral
bands and they are also uncorrelated (Richards, 1999).
The principal component analysis (PCA) is a well-
known method for alteration mapping in metallogenic
provinces for mineral exploration objectives (Pour and
Hashim, 2011; Safari et al., 2017). In this study, the for-
ward PC rotation was applied to VNIR+SWIR and
TIR bands of ASTER covering the study area. A linear
transform was applied to maximize the variance of the
data. Tables 1 and 2 show the eigenvector values for
VNIR+SWIR and TIR bands, respectively, which
obtained using a covariance matrix.
3.2.2.2. Supervised classification. Supervised classification
can be very effective and accurate in classifying satellite
images and can be applied at the individual pixel level or
to image objects (groups of adjacent and similar pixels)
(Congalton, 1991). The Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM)
and Spectral Information Divergence (SID) supervised
classification methods are both spectral measures
(Research Systems, Inc. 2008). SAM is a deterministic
method that looks for an exact pixel match and weights
the differences the same (Kruse et al., 1993). SID is a prob-
abilistic method that allows for variations in pixel measure-
ments, where the probability is measured from zero to a
user-defined threshold (Du et al., 2004). Accordingly,
SAM and SID are both capable to detect subtle differences
between indicator alteration minerals associated with gold
mineralization in the study area.
The SAM algorithm computes the similarity between
the spectrum of a pixel and the reference spectrum. The
relationship between these two spectra as an angle is
expressed as the mean of these two (Kruse et al., 1993).
In this algorithm, each spectrum corresponds to a vector
in a space size equal to the number of bands. Accord-
ingly, the spectrum with the lowest angle with the (refer-
ence) member will be determined as the most similar
spectrum, and the lower the angle, the extent of similarity
is greater, which ultimately the pixels, which are com-
pletely dark indicate the goals that are identified in the
image (Harsanyi and Chang, 1994; De Carvalho and
Meneses, 2000).
3320 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332

Table 1
Eigenvector matrix of VNIR+SWIR bands provides to the principal component analysis for the study area.
Eigenvector Band 1 Band 2 Band 3 Band 4 Band 5 Band 6 Band 7 Band 8 Band 9
PCA1 0.320855 0.387854 0.301641 0.339137 0.319744 0.338363 0.326673 0.346945 0.311140
PCA2 0.412968 0.438544 0.526861 0.076469 0.265347 0.226342 0.274314 0.293055 0.266339
PCA3 0.412042 0.451051 0.710046 0.327660 0.036797 0.052432 0.001750 0.063192 0.084551
PCA4 0.172872 0.286868 0.326148 0.683599 0.130490 0.135934 0.116134 0.351494 0.376300
PCA5 0.612885 0.506871 0.052764 0.001191 0.269497 0.123264 0.186849 0.059803 0.488218
PCA6 0.344701 0.307718 0.076463 0.258405 0.112259 0.149391 0.435074 0.341308 0.610877
PCA7 0.175322 0.131155 0.100178 0.479944 0.297927 0.682738 0.150000 0.364049 0.041894
PCA8 0.040450 0.049919 0.047171 0.082836 0.760040 0.553595 0.050323 0.257065 0.184501
PCA9 0.005055 0.014379 0.001155 0.022089 0.239416 0.054230 0.745193 0.589512 0.190213

Table 2
Eigenvector matrix of TIR bands provides to the principal component analysis for the study area.
Eigenvector Band 10 Band 11 Band 12 Band 13 Band 14
PCA1 0.641696 0.553137 0.432761 0.243009 0.189553
PCA2 0.738159 0.275740 0.560205 0.204269 0.153403
PCA3 0.033850 0.175871 0.370430 0.655077 0.633703
PCA4 0.205428 0.765985 0.600155 0.082124 0.064316
PCA5 0.000220 0.018552 0.038526 0.680698 0.731315

Mathematically SAM can be expressed by Equation: member minerals, including jarosite, hematite, kaolinite,
2 3 alunite, muscovite, illite, chlorite and epidote were
Pn
i¼1 t i ri extracted from the USGS spectral library (Fig. 4A and
a ¼ ArcCos4P 12 Pn 2 12 5 ð1Þ
n
t 2 r B). In order to obtain the final map of the alteration min-
i¼1 i i¼1 i
erals using SAM and SID techniques, the thresholds for the
where ri and ii are reference spectra and image, respectively minerals were adjusted as follows: jarosite (SAM: 0.09,
and n is the number of bands. End member or reference SID: 0.03), hematite (SAM: 0.23, SID: 0.45), kaolinite
spectra applied by SAM can be obtained from image- (SAM: 0.145, SID: 0.06), alunite (SAM: 0.175, SID:
derived pure pixels, spectral libraries, and in situ spectrora- 0.06), muscovite (SAM: 0.12, SID: 0.17), illite (SAM:
diometric measurement of well-known ground surface 0.12, SID: 0.08), chlorite (SAM: 0.21, SID: 0.27) and epi-
materials. dote (SAM: 0.16, SID: 0.14).
The SID is a spectral classification method that uses a
divergence value to match the pixels with the reference 3.2.2.3. Convolution filtering. Convolution filters produce
spectrum. The smaller the difference, the probability of output images in which the brightness value at a given pixel
similarity of the pixels (with the reference spectrum) is is a function of some weighted average of the brightness of
greater. Pixels with a size larger than the maximum of the surrounding pixels (Research Systems, Inc. 2008). The
the specified divergence of the class will not be classified directional filter is a first derivative edge enhancement filter
(Du et al., 2004). The reference members that have been (convolution filter) that selectively enhances image features
used in the divergence spectral information method can having specific direction components (gradients). The sum
be from the files of ASCII or spectral library as well as of the directional filter kernel elements is zero. The result is
from an image directly. that areas with uniform pixel values are zeroed in the out-
Due to the function of this method we have: put image, while those that are variable are presented as
P
L P
L bright edges (Haralick et al., 1987; Jensen, 2005).
A¼ pl logðpl =ql Þ þ ql logðpl =ql Þ Linear features are formed by edges in remotely sensed
i¼1 i¼1 images. Some linear features occur as narrow lines against
P
l
a background of contrasting brightness; others are the lin-
pi ¼ sil = sik ð2Þ
k¼1 ear contact between adjacent areas of different brightness.
P
L Edge enhancement delineates these edges and makes the
qi ¼ sjl = sJk shapes and details comprising the image more conspicuous
k¼1
and easier to analyze (Jensen, 2005). The directional nature
where Pi and Qi are respectively the probability of spectral of geological lineaments accentuates the need for direc-
factor, Sij and Sji are related to the two-pixel vector of rj tional filtering to obtain maximum structural mapping effi-
and ri, and L is the dimension vector (Chang, 1999, 2003). cacy (Tripathi and Gokhale, 2000). The directional filter
For applying SAM and SID to ASTER VNIR/SWIR was used for producing artificial effects suggesting tectoni-
spectral bands, the reference spectra of selected end- cally controlled linear features and prospecting sediment-
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
Fig. 4. The reference reflectance spectra of selected minerals form USGS library; (A) before re-sampling, and (B) after re-sampling to response functions
of ASTER VNIR+SWIR bands.
hosted/orogenic gold deposits and polymetallic vein-type
mineralization along the major lineaments and broad areas
of deformation in Precambrian blocks (Pour and Hashim,
2015; Pour et al., 2016). Therefore, application of a direc-
tional filter to ASTER bands is able to provide structural
features information for gold exploration in the study area.
5*5 kernel matrix was selected in this study to enhance
semi-smooth and smooth/rough features. Four principal
Directional filters N–S, E–W, NE–SW, and NW–SE with
a 5
5 kernel size were applied to band 6 of ASTER
(Table 3). Directional filter angles were adjusted as N–S:
0°, E–W: 90°, NE–SW: 45° and NW–SE: 135°. North
(up) is 0° and the other angles are measured in the counter-
clockwise direction. Image Add Back value was entered
70%. The Image Add Back value is the percentage of the
original image that is included in the final output image.
3321
Adding back part of the original image to the convolution
filter results helps preserve the spatial context and is typi-
cally done to sharpen an image (Research Systems, Inc.
2008).
3.3. Field data and accuracy assessment
Several significant heavy minerals (apatite, augite, ilme-
nite, monazite, rutile, titanite, zircon and zoisite) anomalies
derived from stream sediment samples have been reported
for Saqqez plot (Geological Survey of Iran, 2009). In terms
of geochemical anomalies, area with gold anomalies
include Kervyan (46°040 4500 E36°040 3700 N), Qolqoleh (46°
010 4800 E36°030 3300 N), Qabaghlujeh (46°060 5600 E36°050 33
00
N46°070 5300 E36°050 4600 N), Mirgah Naqshina (45°550 2
600 E36°100 1600 N) Hamzaqanain (46°020 5600 E36°040 3000
3322 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332

Table 3
Directional filters with 5 * 5 kernel matrix.
N–S: 0°
1.000000 1.000000 0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 0.000000 1.000000 1.000000
NE–SW: 45°
1.414214 1.414214 0.707107 0.000000 0.000000
1.414214 1.414214 0.707107 0.000000 0.000000
0.707107 0.707107 0.000000 0.707107 0.707107
0.000000 0.000000 0.707107 1.414214 1.414214
0.000000 0.000000 0.707107 1.414214 1.414214
E–W: 90°
1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000
0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000 0.000000
1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000
1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000 1.000000
NW–SE: 135°
0.000000 0.000000 0.707107 1.414214 1.414214
0.000000 0.000000 0.707107 1.414214 1.414214
0.707107 0.707107 0.000000 0.707107 0.707107
1.414214 1.414214 0.707107 0.000000 0.000000

N) and Pirkheder (46°050 2000 E36°050 0300 N) (Fig. 5A and

B). In the present study, these points were considered to
inspect their spatial relationship with alteration zones and
gold occurrences. A filed reconnaissance has been also con-
ducted to check the alteration points during 10–15 August
2017. Global positioning system (GPS) readings were car-
ried out and filed photography was undertaken in the study
area.
The confusion-matrix (error matrix) approach and
KAPPA coefficient were used for accuracy assessment of
the supervised classification techniques (Villa et al., 2013;
Wenkai and Qinghua, 2014). These approaches are exten-
sively used to characterize the classification accuracy of
digital mapping in remote sensing data. The overlay accu-
Fig. 5. (A) Location of the geochemical samples and reported gold
racy is a mean of classification accuracy that shows the
mineralization (cyan cube) in the Saqqez plat (modified from Geological
ratio of correctly classified pixels to the overlay of the Survey of Iran, 2009). (B) Anomaly locations based on geochemical
apparent pixels and it is calculated as follows: drainage sediments exploration technique (modified from Mohammadi,
2012). (For interpretation of the references to color in this figure legend,
PC
i¼1 Eii
the reader is referred to the web version of this article.)
O:A ¼ ð3Þ
N
Pr Pr
where C is the number of classes, N is the number of appar- b ¼N
K i¼1 X ii 
Pr
X iþ þ X þi
ð4Þ
N 
2
X iþ þ X þi
ent pixels, and Eii is the diagonal members of the error
matrix and O.A. is the overlay accuracy of the classification where N is the total pixels of real earth, X iþ is the total of
(Villa et al., 2013). KAPPA coefficient is one of the other the elements at the i row, and X þi is total elements of j col-
parameters of the error matrix that calculates a classifica- umn, r and c is the number of rows and columns of error
tion in relation to a totally random classification (Wenkai matrix. Tables 4 and 5 show the statistical results for over-
and Qinghua, 2014). In order to calculate this, we use the all accuracy assessment and KAPPA coefficient for SAM
following formula: and SID supervised classification techniques, respectively.
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332 3323

Table 4
Statistical results for overall accuracy assessment and KAPPA coefficient for SAM classification technique.
Class Unclassified Epidote Chlorite Kaolinite Alunite Muscovite illite Jarosite Hematite Masked pixels Total
Unclassified 1,642,731 3592 0 0 0 0 132,248 221,420 0 0 1,999,991
Epidote 0 1955 19,444 0 0 0 0 12,425 74,991 0 108,815
Chlorite 40,500 31,009 22,255 0 0 0 0 40,426 5936 0 140,126
Kaolinite 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 11
Alunite 0 0 0 0 0 0 7850 0 0 0 7850
Muscovite 18,394 0 0 0 0 162 29,721 4454 0 0 52,731
illite 0 0 0 0 0 0 15,762 0 0 0 15,762
Jarosite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 64,726 4651 0 69,377
hematite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7979 0 7979
Masked pixels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 102,614 102,614
Total 1,701,625 36,556 41,699 0 0 162 185,592 343,451 93,557 102,614 2,505,256
SAM ___ Overall Accuracy = (1858184/2505256) 74.1714% ___ Kappa Coefficient = 0.4262.

Table 5
Statistical results for overall accuracy assessment and KAPPA coefficient for SID classification technique.
class Unclassified Epidote Chlorite Kaolinite Alunite Muscovite illite Jarosite Hematite Masked pixels Total
Unclassified 1,159,207 0 0 7981 0 0 0 24,395 1093 0 1,192,676
Epidote 294,726 88,200 72,275 0 0 41 0 10,965 74,611 0 540,818
Chlorite 34,708 0 97,997 0 0 0 0 878 3162 0 136,745
Kaolinite 0 0 0 11,056 3057 400 3384 0 0 0 17,897
Alunite 0 0 0 0 27,012 6171 8838 100 0 0 42,121
Muscovite 106,426 0 0 1321 20 34,917 3880 7891 14 0 154,469
illite 16,998 0 0 716 0 564 63,940 0 0 0 82,218
Jarosite 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23,211 701 0 23,912
hematite 27 60 15 0 0 0 0 0 211,684 0 211,786
Masked pixels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 102,614
Total 1,612,092 88,260 170,287 21,074 30,089 42,093 80,042 67,440 291,265 102,614 2,505,256
SID __ Overall Accuracy = (1819838/2505256) 72.6408% ___ Kappa Coefficient = 0.5906.

4. Results and discussion

4.1. Image transformation results

A color-based classification of pixels in the Saqqez scene

Fig. 6. RGB color composite image-map of band 4, 6, and 8 of ASTER
covering the Saqqez area.
is produced from SWIR bands 4, 6 and 8 of ASTER
assigned to Red-Green-Blue (RGB) channels (Fig. 6).
AL-OH bearing minerals such as kaolinite, alunite, mus-
covite and illite (major minerals for sericite and argillic
alteration zones) have high reflectance in band 4 (1.60–
1.70 lm) of ASTER.
These minerals have, however, significant absorption in
band 6 (2.185–2.228 lm) of ASTER. Fe, Mg-OH minerals
such as chlorite, biotite and epidote have high reflection
around band 6 and strong absorption properties in band
8 of ASTER (e.g., Crosta et al., 2003; Mars and Rowan,
2006), which are predominate minerals in the propylitic
alteration zone. Therefore, the image-map provides an
overview of lithological units and alteration zones for the
study area (Fig. 6). Lithological units contain different
spectral characteristics appear in different colors. Altered
zones and unaltered background are recognizable. The
alteration zones contain mostly AL-OH bearing minerals
3324 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
Fig. 7. (A) RGB color composite image-map of the Saqqez area derived from band ratios 6/8, 4/6 and 4/5. (B) RGB color composite image-map of the
Saqqez area derived from band ratios of 13/14, 14/12 and band 7.
(phyllic and argillic alteration zones) appear as reddish
pink to pink colors, while the area dominated with Fe,
Mg-OH minerals (propylitic alteration zone) manifest in
green to dark green color (Fig. 6).
The combination of band ratios is a robust method for
information extraction of specific hydrothermal alteration
zones and reducing the effects of topography. Therefore,
a specialized band ratio image-map derived from image
spectra were developed by assigning 6/8, 4/6 and 4/5 in
RGB for mapping and discriminating the argillic, phyllic
and propylitic zones in the study area (Fig. 7(A)). Band
ratio of 6/8 was employed for identifying Fe, Mg-OH rich
area (propylitic zone). Band ratio of 4/6 was used for iden-
tifying muscovite/illite (phyllic zone) by virtue of their
reflectance in band 4 and absorption features in band 6
of ASTER data. Band ratio of 4/5 was added to the
RGB composites for identifying kaolinite and alunite
(argillic zone) and reducing the effect of unaltered/silicate
rocks of the background. Fig. 7(A) shows the resultant
image- map. The propylitic alteration zone appears in
magenta to pink color due to strong absorption of Mg-
OH minerals in band 8 of ASTER, while the argillic and
phyllic alteration zones appear in green and whitish yellow
because of strong absorption of Al-OH minerals in bands 5
and 6 of ASTER. Blue tone is attributed to unaltered/sili-
cate lithological units. Argillic and phyllic alteration zones
are widespread in the southwestern and northeastern part
of the study area, while propylitic alteration distributed
in the background of the scene (Fig. 7(A)).
The carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite) have low
emissivity at band 14 and high emissivity at band 13 of
ASTER. Quartz shows low emissivity features in bands
10 and 12 (TIR bands) of ASTER and has high emissivity
in band 14 (Ninomiya et al., 2005; Rockwell and Hofstra,
2008). Hence, ASTER band ratios 13/14 and 14/12 are cap-
able to map carbonate and silicate minerals due to their
specific emissivity features in these bands. In order to pro-
duce a regional view of carbonate and silicate background
of the study area, a RGB color composite image map was
generated using band ratios of 13/14, 14/12 and band 7.
Detrital clay minerals have strong absorption features in
band 7 (2.235–2.285 lm) of ASTER, hence, it can be as a
representative band to highlight sedimentary rocks with a
high content of mudstone, shale, claystone and litharenite
sandstones. Fig. 7(B) shows RGB color composite image-
map derived from band ratios of 13/14, 14/12 and band
7 for the study area. The sedimentary background contains
carbonate and clay minerals appear in purple color, while
crystalline igneous rocks (silicate minerals) represent in a
green hue (Fig. 7(B)). With reference to geology map of
the study area (see Fig. 2), andesitic volcanic rocks and
granite to granodiorite depict in a green hue.
For detail mapping of alteration minerals and litholog-
ical units, PCA transformation was applied to VNIR
+SWIR and TIR bands of ASTER. The statistic results
of PCA transformation for VNIR+SWIR bands of
ASTER (Table 1) show that the PC1 is composed of a neg-
ative weighting of all total bands, which corresponds with
overall scene brightness (albedo) and the strong correlation
between image bands (Loughlin, 1991). According to
Crosta et al. (2003), the PC that contains loadings of sim-
ilar signs on both input band, explains the variance due to
similarities in the spectral responses of the interfering com-
ponent and the component of interest. The other PC,
whose loadings are of different signs on either of the input
band images, highlights the contributions unique to each of
the components. The sign of the loadings dictates whether
the component of interest is represented as bright or dark
pixels in the PC image. Considering the eigenvector load-
ings in PC2 for enhancing alteration minerals in VNIR
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
+SWIR bands of ASTER in the scene, this PC only shows
the difference between the visible and infrared bands
(bands 1, 2, and 3 as negative eigenvector loadings) and
shortwave infrared bands (band 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 as pos-
itive eigenvector loadings) (Table 1). Therefore, the
remaining seven PCs could be considered to have informa-
tion related to the spectral response of iron oxides and
hydroxyl-bearing minerals components.
A PC image contains strong eigenvector loading for
diagnostic reflectance and absorption bands of mineral
with opposite signs enhance that mineral. If the loading
is positive in reflectance band of a mineral the image tone
will be bright, while if negative the image tone will be dark
for target mineral (Loughlin, 1991). Considering the eigen-
vector loadings for bands 1, 2 and 3 in PC3 where these
loadings are also in opposite sign, iron oxides could be
mapped due to strong positive contribution of band 3
(0.710046) and strong negative loadings of bands 1
(0.412042) and 2 (0.451051) as bright pixels in PC3
(Table 1). Iron oxide minerals have a low reflectance in vis-
ible and higher reflectance in near-infrared corresponding
bands 1, 2 and band 3 of ASTER data (Abdelsalam and
Stern, 2000). Eigenvector loadings for PC4 indicate that
PC4 has high potential to enhance Fe-Mg-OH minerals
(propylitic alteration zone: chlorite, biotite and epidote).
The strong positive contribution of band 4 (0.683599)
and negative strong loadings of band 8 (0.351494) and
band 9 (0.376300) in the PC4 emphasize for enhancing
the Fe-Mg-OH minerals as bright pixels in the PC4 image
(Table 1). Fe, Mg(OH)-bearing minerals such as chlorite,
epidote and biotite contain high reflectance in band 4
(1.60–1.70 lm) and distinctive absorption in bands 8 and
9 (2.29–2.43 lm) of ASTER data (Mars and Rowan, 2006).
After analyzing the eigenvector loadings for PC5 and
PC6, it seems that they do not contain desired information
related to Al-OH alteration minerals. Therefore, these PCs
are uninformative for alteration mineral mapping. Eigen-
vector loadings for PC7 indicate high potential of this PC
for mapping Al-OH alteration minerals (argillic and phyllic
alteration zones: kaolinite, alunite, muscovite and illite)
due to the strong negative loading of band 4 (0.479944)
and strong positive weighting of band 6 (0.682738)
(Table 1). Hence, they appear as dark pixels in the PC7.
Al(OH)-bearing minerals such as kaolinite, alunite, mus-
covite and illite show major absorption in band 6 (2.185–
2.228 lm) of ASTER. Eigenvector loadings of PC8 and
PC9 do not show appropriate contributions of reflectance
and absorption bands for enhancing alteration minerals.
Accordingly, RGB color composite was assigned to
PC3, PC4 and PC7 image map to represent the surface dis-
tribution of iron oxide, Fe-Mg-OH and Al-OH mineral
groups in the study area. It must be noted that before
applying the RGB color composite, dark pixels in PC7
were inverted to bright pixels by multiplication to 1.
Fig. 8(A) shows the resultant image-map. Surface distribu-
tion of iron oxide minerals appears in magenta color,
which mostly observable in the northeastern, eastern and
3325
southwestern parts of the study area associated with car-
bonate rocks. Fe-Mg-OH minerals depict in green color
in the northwestern, northeastern and central southern
parts of the study area, where the outcrops of different sed-
imentary rocks, metamorphic rocks and andesitic volcanic
rocks are observable. Surface distribution of blue pixels
(Al-OH minerals) is less in abundance. Yellow pixels might
show the surface distribution of Al-OH mineral groups
that they mixed with other mineral groups in the northeast-
ern and southern part of the study area (Fig. 8(A)).
The statistic results of PCA for ASTER TIR bands
(Table 2) show that the first principal component (PC1)
is composed of a negative weighting of all total bands.
Analysis of the eigenvector loadings in PC2 for enhancing
quartz-rich rocks in bands 10, 12 and 14 indicates that
quartz-rich can be mapped as dark pixels in this PC due
to the moderate negative loading of band 14 (0.153403)
and strong positive loadings of band 10 (0.738159) and
12 (0.560205). Eigenvector loadings for PC3 show that this
PC has the strong positive contribution of band 14
(0.633703) and moderate negative weighting of band 12
(0.370430). Thus, PC3 has also good potential for differ-
entiates quartz-rich rocks as bright pixels from the back-
ground consists of other rock types in the study area.
PC4 does not contain a significant contribution of the
specific bands for mapping quartz or carbonate minerals.
PC5 has the strong negative contribution of band 13
(0.680698) and strong positive loading of band 14
(0.731315). Hence, PC5 can detect carbonate-rich rocks
as dark pixels.
Consequently, PC2, PC3 and PC5 image maps were
used to generate RGB color composite image map of the
study area (Fig. 8(B)). Dark pixels in PC2 and PC5 were
inverted to bright pixels by multiplication to 1 before per-
forming RGB color composite. In Fig. 8(B) quartz-rich
rocks manifest in green color (granite, granodiorite and
metamorphic rocks) and rocks with moderate quartz con-
tent (andesitic volcanic rocks) appear as yellow tone, and
it seems that carbonate and other undifferentiated rocks
are detected as purple to blue colors.
4.2. Supervised classification results
Detailed mapping of hydrothermal alteration minerals
and zones was achieved by implementing SAM and SID
supervised classification to ASTER VNIR/SWIR spectral
bands. The reference spectra of jarosite, hematite, kaolin-
ite, alunite, muscovite, illite, chlorite and epidote extracted
from the USGS spectral library were used in this study (see
Fig. 4A and B). By looking at the selected spectra resam-
pled to response functions of ASTER VNIR+SWIR bands
(see Fig. 4B), it is discernable that the selected minerals
contain diagnostic absorption features in the VNIR
through SWIR bands. Hematite shows strong absorption
features in bands 1 and 3 of ASTER. Jarosite contains
diagnostic absorption features in bands 1, 3 and 7 of
ASTER. Kaolinite and alunite show absorption character-
3326 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332

Fig. 8. (A) RGB color composite image-map of the Saqqez area derived from PC3, PC4 and PC7 of VNIR+SWIR bands. (B) RGB color composite
image-map of the Saqqez area derived from PC2, PC3 and PC5 of TIR bands.

Fig. 9. Rule images of the target alteration minerals generated from SAM classification for the Saqqez scene.

istics in bands 5 and 6 of ASTER. Muscovite and illite
exhibit absorption features in bands 1, 2 and 6 of ASTER.
Chlorite and epidote demonstrate distinctive absorption
features in bands 8 and 9 of ASTER (see Fig. 4B). These
diagnostic absorption characteristics of alteration minerals
were used for mapping these minerals using SAM and SID
methods.
Figs. 9 and 10 show rule images of the target alteration
minerals derived from SAM and SID classification for Saq-
qez scene The classified SAM and SID images are given as
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
Fig. 10. Rule images of the target alteration minerals generated from SID classification for the Saqqez scene.
a series of greyscale rule images, one for each selected end-
member. Pixels in each greyscale image show the most
matched pixels with the reference spectrum of the target
mineral. The value in the rule image represents the surface
abundance of the target mineral in each pixel. Fig. 9 shows
the SAM classification results for the Saqqez scene. Surface
distribution of jarosite/hematite is strongly detected in the
study area. Chlorite/epidote is the second dominated alter-
ation mineral groups. Third and fourth abundant alter-
ation mineral groups are kaolinite/alunite and muscovite/
illite in the Saqqez scene, respectively. The geochemical
anomaly locations mostly surrounded by jarosite/hematite,
chlorite/epidote and muscovite/illite mineral groups. How-
ever, kaolinite/alunite alteration groups could also be
observed in association with some anomaly locations
(Fig. 9). Therefore, hydrothermal alteration zones that
could be found with gold mineralization in the study area
feasibly consist of strong gossan and propylitic zone, and
sporadically phyllic and argillic zones.
Fig. 10 shows SID classification resultant maps. In com-
parison with SAM results, the spatial distribution of
hydrothermal alteration minerals is more pronounced,
especially for hematite. It is due to the fact that SID uses
a divergence value to match the pixels with the reference
spectrum and allows for variations in pixel measurements
(Du et al., 2004). Hematite contains the smaller difference
3327
compare with other minerals, hence, the probability of sim-
ilarity of the pixels (with the reference spectrum) is greater.
However, this fact could also be considered for other alter-
ation minerals. The geochemical anomaly locations in SID
images maps of alteration minerals display almost similar
pattern with the SAM resultant maps. For a detailed illus-
tration of the surface distribution of alteration minerals
and pointing their spatial relationship with geochemical
anomalies in the study area, integrated SAM and SID clas-
sification maps were produced (Fig. 11(A and B)). SAM
and SID classification image map characterize the most
dominated hydrothermal alteration minerals associated
with gold occurrences. Jarosite, epidote, chlorite, hematite
and muscovite show high spatial distribution in the anom-
aly zones and surrounding areas. Therefore, these alter-
ation mineral assemblages could be considered as high
prospective zones for gold occurrences in the study area.
The southeastern and northeastern parts of the scene con-
tain similar alteration mineral assemblages and may have
several prospect zones for gold mineralization in the Saq-
qez region.
4.3. Directional filtering results
Geological structures such as faults and fractures are
one the most important factor controlling the location of
3328 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
Fig. 11. (A) SAM classification image-map for the Saqqez scene. (B) Fig. 14. SID classification image map for the Saqqez scene.
Fig. 12. Lineament map of the Saqqez region.
ore minerals deposition (Cox, 1999; Lee and Wiltschko,
2000). It is demonstrated by the presence of faults and frac-
tures with hydrothermal alteration zones in a variety of ore
mineral deposits. Therefore, mapping lineaments in the
Saqqez region can provide very important information
for prospecting gold mineralization. In this study, direc-
tional filtering was implemented to enhance specific linear
trends in the Saqqez region. Subsequent to analyzing four
principal directional filters to band 6 of ASTER, the most
pronounced trends and lineaments were mapped in the
study area by using a 5
5 kernel matrix (Table 3).
Fig. 12 shows the resultant lineament map. Two dominant
trends, including NE–SW and W–E sets of lineaments are
identified in the study area. Several curvilinear structures
indicate open-upright fold systems with N–S axial plane
in central and southern parts of the image map (Fig. 12).
Intersections of lineament and curvilinear elements can
be seen in central, southern and southwestern parts of the
scene. The main trend of lineaments in the anomaly zones
is NE–SW. However, intersections of structural elements
are favorable sites for intrusions and mineralization in
the study area, which are also mapped in the vicinity of
the anomaly zones. Shear zones, mylonite, cataclasite and
igneous intrusions coincide with hydrothermal alteration
zones in the southern parts of the study area, making the
area high potential for orogenic gold mineralization. Gen-
erally, it can be considered that a domal structure domi-
nated in the northern part of the region, however, two
major shear zones are governed in the southern and south-
eastern parts of the study area.
4.4. Fieldwork data and accuracy assessment results
The areas marked with a high density of pixels for
hydrothermal alteration index minerals on the resultant
images are verified by fieldwork, during which structural
measurements and lithology identification were reported
together with the exact GPS locations. The association of
gossan, chlorite and sericite alteration zones with fault/
fracture intersections in the Qolqoleh and Qabaghlujeh
provides a good example (Fig. 13A–D). The statistical
results calculated for SAM classification technique show
overall accuracy (74.2%) and KAPPA coefficient (0.43),
 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332 3329

Fig. 13. Field photographs of geological structures and hydrothermal alteration zones in the Saqqez area. (A) A view of association of iron oxide minerals
(gossan) with phyllic alteration zone in the Qolqoleh area; (B) A close-up view of a fracture filled by Au-bearing quartz vein associated with chlorite
alteration zone and jarosite, in the Qabaghlujeh anomaly are; (C) A view chlorite alteration zone in the north-eastern part of the Saqqez area; (D) A
regional view of association sericite and kaolinite alteration in the southern part of the Saqqez area.

remote sensing data and previous study were used to pro-

duce a final potential map for the Saqqez region
(Fig. 14). This map shows that the southeastern, south-
western and northeastern parts of the Saqqez region are
highly prospective zones for future gold exploration.

5. Conclusions

The new information extracted from ASTER specialized

Fig. 14. Fused data image-map of the Saqqez area based on stream
geochemical study, ASTER data and fieldwork data.
band ratioing, PCA, SAM, SID and directional filtering
(DF) defines several potential zones for gold exploration
in the Saqqez region. The results agree with published
stream geochemical surveys. Statistical accuracy assess-
ment and fieldwork data also verified the consistency of
the results. The southeastern, southwestern and northeast-
ern parts of the Saqqez region are portenial for containing
several gold mineralization zones. The structural intersec-
tions that are associated with zones rich in jarosite, epidote,
chlorite, hematite and muscovite are considered the first
priority zones. This investigation emphasizes how remote
sensing data can promote targeting high potential zones
for orogenic gold in the SSZ in NW Iran and in similar
areas elsewhere.

respectively (Table 4). Overall accuracy assessment for SID Acknowledgments

technique indicates 72.6% and KAPPA coefficient is 0.59
(Table 5). It is evident that SID technique can provide The Department of Geography and Urban Planning,
more accurate results by considering the KAPPA coeffi- Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran is acknowledged. We are
cient amount. Integration of geochemical anomalies, also grateful to the Korea Polar Research Institute
3330 A. Sheikhrahimi et al. / Advances in Space Research 63 (2019) 3315–3332
(KOPRI) and the Faculty of Engineering and Information
Technology, University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Basem Zoheir likes to acknowledge the Alexander von
Humboldt foundation for making this work possible.
Great appreciation should go to two anonymous journal
reviewers and to Prof. Zhenhong Li (AE) for their con-
structive comments on the early version of this manuscript.
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