<p>The Izeroualen area, located in the Western High Atlas, is among the most promising regions for the exploration of critical raw materials, particularly copper and barium. In the context of a growing global demand for copper, forecasting new targets and identifying high-potential mining zones are of primary importance. This study highlights the importance of integrating geological data, remote sensing, and ground magnetic surveys to identify relevant exploration targets. Analysis of ASTER and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery enabled the delineation of distinct hydrothermal alteration zones and contributed to detailed lithostructural mapping of the region. The results revealed the presence of mineralized structures exposed at the surface. Sulphide (chalcopyrite) and Carbonate (malachite) copper mineral associations occur mainly in quartz- and calcite-hosted veins, striking NE-SW to ENE-WSW, along with iron oxides. Ground magnetic survey revealed several anomalies associated with geological discontinuities, interpreted as brecciated strike-slip faults that may also host mineralized structures, all dipping northwest and following NE-SW and E-W trends. The findings of this study represent a valuable resource for mineral exploration, providing strategic information for both prospectors and advanced research programs focusing on the mineral potential of the Western High Atlas. The integrated approach used in this study reveals that most hydrothermal alteration zones are strongly correlated with NE-SW–oriented faults and mineralized veins. This clearly indicates that the structural framework controls the localization and development of copper mineralization, which occurred during both the Hercynian and Alpine orogenic events.</p>

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Ground magnetic survey and remote sensing for structural framework analysis and hydrothermal alteration of copper mineralization in the Izeroualen Area, Western high Atlas, Morocco

  • Ibrahim Dakir,
  • Lahcen Ousaid,
  • Abdelaziz Harroud,
  • Abdel-Ilah Mihraje,
  • Ahmed Benamara

摘要

The Izeroualen area, located in the Western High Atlas, is among the most promising regions for the exploration of critical raw materials, particularly copper and barium. In the context of a growing global demand for copper, forecasting new targets and identifying high-potential mining zones are of primary importance. This study highlights the importance of integrating geological data, remote sensing, and ground magnetic surveys to identify relevant exploration targets. Analysis of ASTER and Sentinel-2 satellite imagery enabled the delineation of distinct hydrothermal alteration zones and contributed to detailed lithostructural mapping of the region. The results revealed the presence of mineralized structures exposed at the surface. Sulphide (chalcopyrite) and Carbonate (malachite) copper mineral associations occur mainly in quartz- and calcite-hosted veins, striking NE-SW to ENE-WSW, along with iron oxides. Ground magnetic survey revealed several anomalies associated with geological discontinuities, interpreted as brecciated strike-slip faults that may also host mineralized structures, all dipping northwest and following NE-SW and E-W trends. The findings of this study represent a valuable resource for mineral exploration, providing strategic information for both prospectors and advanced research programs focusing on the mineral potential of the Western High Atlas. The integrated approach used in this study reveals that most hydrothermal alteration zones are strongly correlated with NE-SW–oriented faults and mineralized veins. This clearly indicates that the structural framework controls the localization and development of copper mineralization, which occurred during both the Hercynian and Alpine orogenic events.