Iron ore prospection East Aswan, Egypt, using remote sensing techniques

• Main Authors: S.M. Salem, E.A. El Gammal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2015-12-01
• Series: Egyptian Journal of Remote Sensing and Space Sciences
• Subjects: Landsat 8; Iron-deposits; Chemical analyses
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110982315000125

In the present study, integrated remote sensing, geological and geochemical analyses provided three iron ore localities promising for iron mineralization namely; Kom-Ombo (area 1) Aswan (area 2) and Lake Naser (area 3). They are found in variable altitudes at different topographies in the post Nubia sandstones (Timsah formation) at Wadi El Kharit, Wadi El Aweirsha, Wadi Beida and Umm Huqban. Three types of iron-ore have been distinguished in the provided areas; (1) Ferruginous sandstone iron-ore, (2) Oolitic iron-ore and (3) Ferruginous concretion iron-ore. Fe2O3 content in the Ferruginous sandstones reaches up to 70.46%. In the Oolitic iron-ore the Fe2O3 content attains 54.24%. The Ferruginous concretions displayed an Fe2O3 content up to 63.2%. The iron concentration grade (density color degree) revealed by Landsat 8 agrees with the results of geochemical analyses. This confirms the use and advantage of integrating remote sensing and field verifications with the geochemical analyses in prospecting iron-ore deposits in the Arabo Nubian Shield and similar arid regions.