Application of remote sensing to identify Copper–Lead–Zinc deposits in the Heiqia area of the West Kunlun Mountains, Chinas

The harsh natural environment and inaccessibility of the West Kunlun Mountains are barriers for their investigation via field geology. Remote sensing technology has the advantage of being efficient on a macroscale and not being restricted by terrain or road conditions in sparsely vegetated areas with exposed bedrock. This work focuses on copper–lead–zinc deposits in the Heiqia area in the West Kunlun Mountains as a case study to illustrate the application of IKONOS remote sensing images as major data sources to fabricate a standard image map, the extraction of information on ore-controlling factors and mineralization through the use of image enhancement methods, and the interpretation of remote sensing data to identify mineral resources. Alteration anomaly information was extracted from ASTER data, verified via field survey and sampling, and used to develop a remote sensing model for utilization in future prospecting efforts. The results of the survey showed that in IKONOS (band 3, 2, and 1 synthesis) images, the copper mineralization zone exhibits interlaced gray-white, blue-gray, and blue tones in a narrow strip-like pattern, while the lead–zinc mineralization zone shows gray-white, light gray-yellow, and yellowish-brown tones in a strip-like pattern. The main remotely sensed alteration anomalies are characteristic of hydroxyl. Six hydroxyl anomalies were delineated in the study area, of which five were found to be copper–lead–zinc deposits. The location of the ore bodies coincides well with the ASTER anomalies extracted. Two Cu–Pb–Zn mineralization belts are present in the study area. The ore-bearing rock series of belt No. I is phyllite interbedded with metasandstone, and the ore comprises mainly copper deposits supplemented by lead–zinc deposits. Belt No. II is in limestone and consists mainly of lead–zinc deposits supplemented by copper deposits. A remote sensing geological prospecting model for structurally altered Wenquangou Group copper–lead–zinc deposits with a genesis related to hot water basins is established. This provides a basis for future prospecting for similar minerals in the West Kunlun metallogenic belt.