Geostatistical Study of Airborne Geophysical Data of the Tiouit Mining Area (Eastern Anti-Atlas, Morocco)

Abstract

: The main objective of the present work is to use principal component analysis (PCA) on the various airborne geophysical data, including gamma-ray spectrometry (concentrations of radioactive elements 40 K and 232 Th), magnetism (magnetization contrast due to magnetic susceptibility), and electromagnetism (apparent electrical resistivity) to describe the physicochemical behavior of the mining zones in operation as well as to prospect other zones favorable for exploration. This data's geostatistical study highlights the adequate principal component (PC) to visualize these geophysical variables. We chose PC4 to visualize the zones favorable for mining concentration because it describes the same physical and chemical characteristics represented by the Tiouit alteration zone. The collection and X-ray fluorescence analysis of 32 samples in the field yielded high grades of Arsenic (24 g/t), Copper (5.87%), Iron (19.30 %), Lead (5.70%), and Zinc (8.85%).