Identification of hidden mineral deposits using airborne magnetic data in the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt (MEMB), Iran

The Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic belt hosts large deposits of Zn-Pb with sedimentary host rocks. In addition to Zn-Pb mineralization, Cu, Cr, Au, Fe, Mn, W have been mineralized in this area with different host rocks. In the present study, using airborne magnetic data, promising mineral areas in Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic zone have been introduced. Using reduction to pole (RTP) filters, signal analytical and vertical derivative were processed and airborne magnetic data were interpreted. The map derived from the vertical derivative is considered as the final map to identify anomalies resulting from airborne magnetic data. Due to the sedimentary nature of the Malayer-Esfahan area and the fact that the minerals in the rocks of this area usually have low magnetic properties, the anomalies obtained from the airborne magnetic data showed a relative overlap with some the Zn-Pb deposits in the area; According to this case, the anomalies obtained in this study can be used to identify iron reserves other than Zn-Pb in this area. Anomalies resulting from the vertical derivative filter with iron deposits more than Zn-Pb deposits such as Shams-Abad and Akhtarchi Fe deposits, Astaneh and Muteh Au deposits, Rousht W deposit, Ghaleh-Arab Cu deposit, Ahangaran Zn-Pb deposits, Saleh-Payghambar, Ab-Bagh, Dardahaneh, Khan-Abad, Lakan and etc show overlap. In general, the results of this study showed that in the northwestern, central, and southeastern parts of the Malayer-Esfahan metallogenic zone, there are areas as new and hidden anomalies that can be used for sampling of promising mineral areas by sampling and spectroscopy.