Identification of Alteration Zones using ASTER Data for Metallic Mineralization in Ahar region, NW Iran

The goal of this research work is to recognize the metallic mineralization potential in the Ahar 1:100,000 sheet (NW Iran) using the remote sensing data based on determination of the alteration zones. This area is located in the Ahar-Arasbaran metallogenic zone as a significant metallogenic zone in Iran and Caucasus. In this research work, the Landsat-7 ETM+ and advanced space borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) multispectral remote sensing data was interpreted by the least square fit (LS-Fit), spectral angle mapper (SAM), and matched filtering (MF) algorithms in order to detect the alteration zones associated with the metallic mineralization. The results obtained by these methods show that there are index-altered minerals for the argillic, silicification, advanced argillic, propylitic, and phyllic alteration zones. The main altered areas are situated in the SE, NE, and central parts of this region.