No Detail Found!

Integrated Remote Sensing and Structural Analysis for Mapping Mineralized Zones in the Nisai Region, Balochistan

Author(s)
Aneeza Munir Mineral Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Muhammad Farooq Ahmed Mineral Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Saif Ur Rehman National Centre of Excellence in Geology, University of Peshawar, Peshawar 25130, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Anas Bin Shah Mineral Development Department, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
Abstract
This research focuses on the remote sensing-based exploration of mineralization zones lying within the thrusted sheets of ophiolites in the younger sediments of Pishin Basin, in the vicinity of Nisai Village of the Pishin Belt, Balochistan. This region, despite its considerable geological potential within the Tethyan metallogenic belt, remains largely underexplored. Utilizing multispectral satellite datasets, including Landsat 8 OLI and ASTER, we applied an advanced suite of digital-image processing techniques. These techniques encompass Band Ratios (BR), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF) transformation, Decorrelation Stretch (DS), and convolutional filtering, which collectively facilitate the precise delineation of magmatic zones, critical indicators of mineral deposits. This approach is particularly adept at isolating spectral signatures associated with iron oxides, chromite, carbonates, asbestos, soapstone and silicified zones, each providing essential insights into the underlying hydrothermal activity in the region. This analysis was further refined by incorporating anomaly-specific RGB composites which facilitated the identification and mapping of key alteration zones. In addition to this spectral analysis, structural lineament mapping utilizing directional filtering and DEM-based methods demonstrated a strong spatial correlation between fault systems and alteration zones. This observation underscores the pivotal role of tectonic structures in directing hydrothermal fluid flow and influencing mineral deposition patterns. Data interpretation findings were rigorously validated through fieldwork and cross-referenced with established mineral occurrences within the Chagai-Pishin metallogenic domain, thereby confirming the reliability of our remote sensing results. The conclusion of this study is an integrated mineral prospectivity map that synthesizes alteration signatures, structural trends, and spatial anomalies into a cohesive exploration framework. This map not only identifies previously unrecognized high-priority targets but also serves as a practical tool for guiding future field investigations, geochemical sampling, and drilling programs. Ultimately, this study demonstrates the powerful synergy of combining remote sensing data with structural geology to unravel complex mineral systems, providing a robust and actionable roadmap for advancing sustainable resource development in the Nisai region of Balochistan.
Publication Details
Page(s) 1-1
DOI DOI not available
Published Journal: Book of Abstracts: 8th International Conference "Earth Sciences Pakistan 2026" (ESP-2026), June 12-14, 2026, Volume: 1, Issue: 1, Year: 2026

Request the full text from PASTIC

Keywords
Multispectral image processing, Remote Sensing, Pishin Belt, Lineament analysis, mineralization zone, Hydrothermal alteration
0

Citations

0

Downloads

5

Views