10.57647/ijes.2027.93881

Cost-Effective Mapping of MVT Pb-Zn Mineralization Using ASTER Data: A Hybrid Classification and Fuzzy Logic Approach in Semnan, Iran

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  • Soran Qaderi1,
  • Abbas Maghsoudi*1,
  • Amin Beiranvand Pour2,
  • Mahyar Yousefi3,
  1. Department of Mining Engineering, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
  2. Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Terengganu, Malaysia
  3. Faculty of Engineering, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran

Received: 2025-02-03

Revised: 2025-08-19

Accepted: 2025-12-25

Published Online: 2026-03-26

Copyright (c) 2026 Soran Qaderi, Abbas Maghsoudi, Amin Beiranvand Pour, Mahyar Yousefi (Author)

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Qaderi, S., Maghsoudi, A., Beiranvand Pour, A., & Yousefi, M. (2026). Cost-Effective Mapping of MVT Pb-Zn Mineralization Using ASTER Data: A Hybrid Classification and Fuzzy Logic Approach in Semnan, Iran. Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.57647/ijes.2027.93881
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Abstract

This study presents a cost-effective and practical framework for mapping the mineralization potential of Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn deposits using ASTER satellite imagery in western Semnan, Iran. The workflow integrates multiple spectral processing techniques—including Principal Component Analysis (PCA), band ratios, band math, and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM)—followed by Minimum Distance Classification (MDC) and fuzzy logic modeling. The resulting mineral prospectivity map was evaluated using a Prediction–Area (P–A) plot, yielding a normalized density index (Nd) of 3.76, which demonstrates a strong spatial correspondence between the predicted prospective zones and known mineral occurrences. The proposed approach is suitable for early-stage exploration in arid and inaccessible regions and can be readily adapted for application in other metallogenic provinces, making it a valuable tool for regional-scale mineral exploration.

Keywords

  • ASTER satellite imagery,
  • Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) Pb-Zn mineralization,
  • Remote sensing,
  • Spectral processing,
  • Supervised classification,
  • Fuzzy logic,
  • Mineral prospectivity mapping,
  • Semnan,
  • Central Iran Zone (CIZ)
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References

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