OICC Press Iranian Journal of Earth Sciences 2228-785X 2026 07 14 Cost-Effective Mapping of MVT Pb-Zn Mineralization Using ASTER Data: A Hybrid Classification and Fuzzy Logic Approach in Semnan, Iran 10.57647/ijes.2027.93881 EN Soran Qaderi Department of Mining Engineering, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Abbas Maghsoudi Department of Mining Engineering, Amir Kabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran Amin Beiranvand Pour Institute of Oceanography and Environment (INOS), University Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), Terengganu, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8783-5120 Mahyar Yousefi Faculty of Engineering, Malayer University, Malayer, Iran Journal Article 2026 07 14 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.