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XLEVENTH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON -_.RF,MOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT

April 25 - 29, 1977

Michigan, U.S.A.

(E78-10167) APPLICATION OF LANDSAT N78-28572 SATELLITE. IMAGERY FOR IRON ORF PROSPECTING IN THE OF ( Academy of Scientific Research and Technclogy) 12 p Unclas HC A02/ MF A01 CSCL 08G G3/43 00167

APPLICATION OF LANDSAT SATELLITE IMAGERY FOR IRON ORE PROSPECTING IN THE WESTERN DESERT OF EGYPT

E. M. EL SHAZLY, M. A. ABDEL HADY, M. A. EL GHAWABY, & S. M. KHAWASIK

-REMOTE SENSING CENTER AND ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENT, , EGYPT

^C J. a-)93n

` 1978

UI A,

^ ^r^xQ AN APPLICATION OF LANDSAT SATI-1A ITF. IMAGERY

FOR IRON ORE

^t S PROSPECTING IN THE WESTERN DESERT OF EGYPT \rte' r^Y E. M. EL SHAZLY, M. A. ABDEL HADY, M. A. EL GHAWABY, $ S. M. KHAWASIK

REMOTE SENSING CENTER AND ATOMIC ENERGY ESTABLISHMENT, CAIRO, EGYPT

SUMMARY

Prospecting for iron ore occurrences has been conducted by the Remote Sen- sing Center in Bahariya Oasis-E1 area covering some 100,000 km2 in the Western Desert of Egypt. Landsat-1 satellite images have been utilized as the main tool in the regional prospecting of the iron ores.

The delineation of the geological units and geological structures through th y; interpreta . ion of the images corroborated by f.eld observations and struc- rural inalysis led to the discovery of new iron ore occerrences in the area of investigation. A new locality for iron ore deposition namely that of Gebel Qalamun has been discovered accordingly, as well as new occurrences within the alr>.•ady known iron ore locality of Bahariya Oasis. The previously mentioned localties have been recommended for immediate detailed exploration using airb:;rne and ground remote sensing techniques. Six other localities have been i t rthti recommended for long term exploration. The geological exploration cri- teria found out during the present investigation include the geological units rang:7-5 in age fruni Cretaceous to Eocr-;c and the superimposed Laramide folding.

The stiuctural features of the ncw:y ;!iscovered Gebel Qalamun locality, as well a: other now occurrences in the cirv'rons of Aahariya Oasis locality show- ing on Landsat satellite images are comparable to those of the already known iron ore deposits in the latter locality. The iron ore depo3ites of E1 Gedida, Gebel Ghorabi and El Harra are noted to be mostly located on crenulations re- presenting hinge areas of meso or macro folds with axial traces attaining an approximately NE-SW direction. Moreover, the iron ore deposits at E1 Heiz are likewise located on crenulations representing hinge areas of meso or macro folds. However, at least two generations of folding have acted on the strata of Bahariya Oasis locality and its iron ore deposits, as the final folding traces acquire trends varying from NW-SE to NNW-SSE. The tectonic setting of the newly discovered iron ore occurrences and those of the already known iron ore deposits is controlled by the same forces which led to the deposition of iron ores in comparable localities regarding both time and space.

INTRODUCTION

A geologically favorable area for the deposition and accumulation of iron ores has been selected in the Western Desert of Egypt to conduct regional pros- pecting for these ores at the request of the Egyptian Iron and'Steei Company. The area in question, termed Bahariya Oasis - E1 Faiyum area (El Shazly, Abdel Hady, E1 Ghawaby and El Kassas, 1976), covers 100,000 km2 which represents lot of the whole coverage of the Egyptian territories. Due to the great extension of the area of investigation and the limited time available to carry out the project, which is less than one year, LANDSAT-1 satellite images have been utilized as the main prospecting tool for iron ore occurrences.

As the regional prospecting for iron ores in Bahariya Oasis-E1 Faiyum area is essentially governed by the geological units which host the iron ores and the Structures which control their deposition and accumulation, maps of geolo- gical units, structural lineaments and draina6^e have been constructed for the area in question on scales of 1:500,000 to 1:250,000 based on LANDSAT imagery, intensive field measurements and structural analysis. The images used include black and white positive transparencies and prints in bands 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the multispectral scanner carried on LANDSAT-1, false color composite trans- parencies and prints produced from various combinations of three of the pre- viou;;ly mentioned bands, as well as some images digitized from the computer compatible tapes.

All images have been subjected to detailed photo interpretation. It has been found out during this process and previous experience gained in the pre- vailing arid conditions of the Egyptian deserts that the transparencies are superior to the opaque prints • and that in addition to the false color composi- te transparencies images of bands S and 7 are most helpful in delineating the geological units, structural lineaments and drainage lines.

Due to the particular importance of structural elements in the localiza- tion of iron ore occurrences the numerous field structural measurements obtai- ned have been treated by a structural analysis technique to determine the major structures in the area of investigation which could not be fully investigated in outcrops and their geometrical elements. The technique in question is based on viewing the linear structures and the normals of the planar structures as vectors of a unit magnitude each (Raw4ay, 1967; Koch and Link, 1971).

LITHOLOGIC CRITERIA FOR IRON ORE PROSPECTING

Prospecting for iron ores in Bahariya Oasis - E1 Faiyum area is closely connected with -he identification on LANDSAT-1 imagery of the lithologic units favorable for hosting these ores, and the delineation of such units on the in- terpreted geological maps (Figures 2 and 3). This method is of direct nature and has been previously applied by E1 Shazly, Abdel Hady, E1 Ghawaby and E1 Kassas (1974) for the recognition of iron ore deposits and phosphorite beds on LANDSAT-1 images in East Aswan area, Egypt. In the latter locality the iron ores are restricted to the medium textured iron ore member which has the dark- est color among the various members of the Nubian Sandstone. On the other hand, the phosphorite beds represent an integral part of the phosphate-bearing for- mation which is characterized by its very coarse texture and medium grey tone.

Examination of the satellite images of the investigated Bahariya Oasis-E1 Faiyum area reveals striking similarities between Bahariya Oasis and Gebel Qalamun environs, located in the western and eastern parts respectively of the considered area at long distances from each other (Figure 1). Iron ore depo- sits have been previously known at E1 Gedida, Ghorabi and El Harra in the environs of Bahariya Oasis where they occur essentially in Middle Eocene sedi- mentary rocks (Ball and Beadnell, 1903; E1 Shazly 1962 a and b; El Akkad and Issawi, 1963; E1 Bassyouni, 1972; etc.). The latter are characterized, in the appropriate LANDSAT images, by the presence of white chalky horizons inter- calated by dark grey beds of limestones and clays of ferruginous nature. Sedi- ments with comparable characteristics and age have been identified on LANDSAT images in Gebel Qalamun environs. Field investigations which followed this identification and delineation proved the presence of iron occurrences at Gebel Qalamun locality outcropping along a curve attaining some 70 •kilometers in length (Figure 7). The geological unit hosting the iron deposition has been found by lithostratigraphic measurements to be correlatable to the lower for- mation, named Gebel Qalamun Formation, of the Middle Eocene sediments where the known iron ore deposits in the environs of Bahariya Oasis are present. In Ge- bel Qalamun environs the shaly horizons of the formation in question are the ones incorporating the iron minerals.

STRUCTURAL CRITERIA FOR IRON ORE PROSPECTING

The structural lineaments interpreted from LANDSAT-1 imagery are discrimi- nated as linear elements such as fractures and faults or as curved elements re- presenting folds. One of the great advantages of using LANDSAT imagery is the elucidation of major regional lineaments, thus enabling the detection of their interconnections and their correlation over large areas. i :.- { TIff- 7 F #

{ The structural pattern of the investigated Bahariya Oasis-El Faiyum area has been formulated in three stages starting with the delineation of the struc- tural lineaments on the most suitable LANDSAT images, followed by checking and measuring of the structures in the field, and finally by computer programmed analyses of the structural elements.

The similarity of the structural elements, notably folds, in the environs of Bahariya Oasis (Figure 4) and Gebel Qalamun (Figure S) has been noted at an early stage of the work as has been the case with the lithologic units. This has led to the orientation of prospecting towards the discovery of iron occur- rences in the environs of Gebel Qalamun. Furthermore, the structural investi- gations carried out in the environs of Bahariya Oasis proved that the already known iron ore deposits are related spatially to small hinge zones of plunging synclines and anticlines imposed on the host rocks. It may be added here that Bahariya Oasis main anticlinal structure has been built up by an older folding with an axial trace striking NNE-SSW which has been modified by a younger one to acquire an axial trace striking NNW-SSE.

The same structural features noted in the already known iron ore deposits have been also encountered in other localities in the environs of Bahariya Oa- sis, and accordingly the latter are recommended for further detailed prospect- ing in three successive time periods according to their priority. In the whole area of investigation priority No.l has been given to Northern Bahariya Oasis locality 1 (Figure 6) and Gebel Qalamun locality 2 (Figure 7). The c oice of localities belonging to priority No.l is based on favorable geological and structural conditions. the presence of iron deposition in exposures or under shallow depths, and the relative cheapness of the infrastructure required to develop such localities. Priority No.2 is assigned to Qaret Had El Bahr locality 3 and Ghard Ghorabi locality 4 in the vicinity of Bahariya Oasis. and West E1 Faiyum locality S westwards of Gebel Qalamun. Localities selected under priority No.2 possess favorable structural conditions while their infra- structure may be connected with that of localities of priority No.l. Locali- ties belonging to priority No.3 include those of Central Bahariya Oasis locali- ty 6, Southern Bahariya Oasis locality 7 and West Giza locality d. The localities in question require separate infrastructure and may exist in the subsurface at considerable depths.

REFERENCES

BALL. J., 6 BEADNELL, H. J. L. (190.3). Bahariya Oasis, its topography and geology. Survey Dept., Cairo, Egypt.

F.I. AKKAU, S., 4 CSSAWI. B. (1963). Geology and iron ore deposits of the BeA,,o- riva Oasis. Geological SurVey an y! Mineral Research Dept., Cairo, Egypt, Paper No. 18.

EL BASSYOUNI, A. N. (1972). Geology of the Area Between Gar9 E1 Hamra and Ball- Qur Lyons and Ghard El Moharik and its Correlation with El Harra Area, Bahariya Oasis, Egypt. M.Sc. Thesis, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

EL SNAZLY, E. M. (1962 a 6 b). The Results of Drilling in the IrorL Ore Deposits of Gebel Ghorabi, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert; and Report on the Mine- ralogy of the Low Grade Iron Ores of E1 Heiz Area, Bahariya Oasis, Western Desert. Geological Survey and Mineral Research Dept., Cairo, Egypt.

EL SNAZLY, E. M., ABDEL HADY, M. A., EL GHAWABY. M. A., 6 KHAWASIK, S. M. (1976). Regional prospecting for iron ores in Bahariya Oasis-E1 Faiyum area. Egypt, using LANDSAT satellite images. Remote Sensing Center, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Cairo, Egypt.

EL SNAZLY, E. M., ABDEL HADY, M. A., EL GHAWABY, M. A., 6 EL KASSAS, I. A. (1974). Geologic interpretation of ERTS-1 Satellite Images for East Aswan Area, Egypt. Proc. Ninth International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, Ann Arbor, Michigan, pp.104-117.

ALpAGE1b ARTY ^,l) nFi p^R KOCH, G. S. J., 4 LINK, R. F. (1971). Statistical Analysis of Geological Data, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. John Wiley and Sons Inc.

RAMSAY, J. G. (1967). Folding and Fracturing of Rocks. McGraw Hill Inc.

s

4 FIGURE I. LOCATION MAP OF BAHARIYA OASIS AND GEBEL QALAMUN ENVIRONS, WESTERN DESERT, EGYPT

:£ >

PG j LEAD

Prot N all 4 SABKHA a4 06 PG 1 a ^ p S CU I TIVATION PG 2 ALLU V IAL DEPOSITS DERIVED PG ? ( 4 n4 04 FROM LATE EOCENE ROCKS ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS DERIVED N 03 FROM MIDDLE EOCENE ROCKS 04 PG2 p2 ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS DERIVED FROM EARLY EOCENE ROCKS ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS DERIVED p4 K FROM LATE CRETACEOUS 3 PG 3 PG1B 04 Nj GE EL El — . — A.FORMATION P G2 04 3 P 1 P ee a GEBEL OATRANI G3 04 PG2 G S 1 e VOL CANIC S 'BASALTIC \PGS GEBEL OATRANI_FORMATION .,J PG 1 PG PGA Q G< Clayey&limy Member P2Gl P PGPG 2 G? G = c C. Sandy Memher 2j M PG PG 1 Wss=io G Nummulilic limestone G Q4 G1 04 W^< Member Wom o 04 p2G, PG; Marl-limestene Member PPC", 0I Ti P 3 t PG7 Crystalline limestone G ) t0I Z 2 Member K G P2 G PG Chalky limestene. Kj 0< q4 a^ Member K) 2 P PG, W° PG Forruylnouf Clay ,P?G . Z , e 01 K I G^ PG 3 v Member Q1 2 K3 0 © G) CtystoYine limefton! P N t Member p2 2 as G3 < I P 2 I Chalky Limestone K K ( G, PG 2 Member K GS OS 1 g N, ow =F11G, K p V ^` Limestone Member ® 11 K01 K K =PG ? fhOikChalk Member ? of = PG 2 °- N, i n< a Chalky limestene oil Member K 2 K 01 AX I K; N = Dolomitic Limestop! Member 01 N^ K1 PG 2 N K Clay Member r K1 1 1 < _ < 03 02 K 1 Ferruginous limestone K, , F e PG2 < t Member 2 y K 3) t F ¢ K i l^ Kaolinic Memh.• ^l K 3 K, 1 Pr 2 K j Shale Member ^, Kf +^01 P 1 PG1 PG, PGA 0 S 10 15 20Km K! 29 00 2•D0 -----^----,r

FIGURE 2, GEOLOGICAL MAP OF BANARIYA OASIS ENVIRONS

AT ! iAFt .._ L - - -

uo 02 LEGEND El Faiyum 03 PG2 t 04 CULTIVATION ©2 PQ ^ 0 3 NATURAL VEGETATION t 02 01 01 0 Y EOLIAN SANDS & SAND PG 1 v - i = ACCUMULATIONS atv 03 01 0 j ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS DER- t IV ED FROM EOCENE ROCKS 01 PG i ^' 3 PC. Of 01 PG 2 PG^G' ♦ i ♦ Gebel Oatrani 1 LQU Vol canlcs'Ba sait 00 PP^1 0 1 ^+2 Pa; PG G3 pxz of U.00— Clayey and Limy tG i l urt `", , Members 0 <-SX P 1 01 PG P^ G o` LYjj Sandy Member t+, WQ PG2 PC 1 p 1 O<

N2 i^ PG2 (/ f i2 o.1 Chalky Limestone P _, MlmDer '^ PG 3 1 01^PG1 mo V Ferruginous Clay PG 1 ^_. t Member

03 P62 TOWN

yy PG PG 2 Pt't '?o, °j " 2 {" f P4: rv.f 04. 1101 .l 0 5 10 15 20 Km P` ^ Yt PG 2 L , t ^ ^ I" ------•

F ICI URE 3, GkOLOGIGAL IMAP OF GLBEL QALAI MIUN ENVIRONS Oh 161'N AT, PACE 19 ()h' i ooR QIJAL1TV . ' ` \ j-

00 LE^Q

Oon FOLDS ,/FRACTURES INCLUDING , FAULTS

OTHER LINEAMENTS

,,4- BEDDING '"CROSS BEDDING 3^ FOL IATION

Q^ garat Had at iabr ,-00"]OINTING

,"AGYPSEOUS VEINLET 1 FOLD LIMB SHEAR ZONE (tgaro of atawat PRIMARY LINEATION a ^10 FOLD AXIS( SYNCLINE- 9 ^ f ANTICLINE ) 'i2 1^3 ael A 76 X' AXIS OF SYNCLINE 6.Ghorabl ^f 0S` v ^..^.^1 t,^4.^t/ 14 ^1 r AXIS OF ANTICLI HE STG 34 1 SHEAR ZONE ON HINGE 44 PLANE OF FOLD `.. 6 J • ATTITUDE OF FOLD AXIS L RAWITI EtlHarro r TO AXIAL PLANE Ain -1 gtlt \ IS-at TIbul ► In Gstfara a C ^^ ails ^ 3 27 Ain* is B RIY 37 Haawl ^^

G.Radwan 0 S 10 IS 20 Km .rY / Dal ^14^ '^ 1 /OASIS J,-

0000l

FIGURE 4. SIRUCTURAL MAP OF BAHARIYA OASIS ENVIRONS ..

t

El Faiyum LgG EN D

0:00,11 FOLDS 7 ` `\ ,,* -"FRACTURES INCLUDING 1 1 Itsa FAULTS .r OTHER LINEAMENTS 3 i BEDDING c _ r CROSS BEDDING 1 1 .r' FOLIATION

et 11,34an 26 y JOINTING I-'GYPSEOUS VEINLE' +6 79 6 ,.lb-FOLD LIMB

t* ` SHEAR ZONE O /•--- J c Samuell / PRIMARY LINEATION FOLD AXIS (SYNCLINE- r` ANTICLINE) ' 86 7 8, i AXIS OF SYNCLINE 3x3/$3 x AXIS OF ANTICLINE SHEAR ZONE ON HINGE .11 PLANE OF FOLD ATTITUDE OF FOLD AXIS TO AXIAL PLANE "hagha

Qur el Ghada `g

0 S 10 IS 20 Km ^, w NOWAN 3o Ir r

7 -,NJQaret l Abu RO 3•36 ORIGINAL PAGE 2 OF POOR RUAlM

FIGURE 5, STRUCTURAL MAP OF GEBEL QALAMUN ENVIRONS. LEGEN FOLDING FIRST FOLD AXIS ,+r SECOND FOLD AXIS ,A. PROBABLE FOLD AXIS

c•^?y KNOWN IRJN OCCURRENCE NEWLY INVESTIGATED IRON OCCURRENCE 200 SAMPLE NUMBER LOCALITIES SELECTED FOR PROSPECTING AND EXPLO- RATION PARTS OF LOCALITIES CHOSEN FOR IMMEDIATE PROSPECTING AND EXP- Q-1 LORATION

0 S 10 IS 20 Km

FIGURE 6. LOCALITIES SELECTED FOR IRON ORE PROSPECTING, BAHARIYA OASIS ENVIRONS.

i

L, k

EL FAIYUM L gG EN

FOLDING ^► FIRST FOLD AXIS SECOND FOLD AXIS ' 1 ` PROBABLE FOLD AXIS KNOWN IRON OCCURRENCE Y % t NEWLY INVESTIGATED IRON OCCURRENCE 101 SAMPLE NUMBER • GEBE QALAMUN LOCALITY LOCALITIES SELECTED FOR T, PROSPECTING AND EXPLO- low 1 RATION 04@ GEBEL PARTS OF LOCALITIES o QALAMUN CHOSEN FOR IMMEDIATE 2.1 PROSPECTING AND EXP• LORATION 1 101 ^- EIR\ SA L

99

i .. 03 , a Fil J ^ 0 S 10 IS 20 Km

(OWN Maghagha I 176

i V ^

C J / 0 4A`rj El Bahnasa erw / 1r' J `^

w ,/ {F op N 3o1' ad IGI ^^^, OF PtX)lt

iOCALIiIES SEL_.JEO FOR IRON ORE PROSPECTING, GEBEL 1p tLAMUN ENV kiNS !