ASTER data processing and fusion for alteration minerals and silicification detection:Implications for cupriferous mineralization exploration in the western Anti-Atlas,Morocco

Alteration minerals and silicification are typically associated with a variety of ore mineralizations and could be detected using multispectral remote sensing sensors as indicators for mineral exploration.In this investigation,the Visible Near-Infra-Red(VNIR),Short-Wave Infra-Red(SWIR),and Thermal Infra-Red(TIR)bands of the ASTER satellite sensor derived layers were fused to detect alteration minerals and silicification in east the Kerdous inlier for cupriferous mineralization exploration.Several image processing techniques were executed in the present investigation,namely,Band Ratio(BR),Selective Principal Component Analysis(SPCA)and Constrained Energy Minimization(CEM)techniques.Initially,the BR and SPCA processing results revealed several alteration zones,including argillic,phyllic,dolomitization and silicification as well as iron oxides and hydroxides.Then,these zones were mapped at sub-pixel level using the CEM technique.Pyrophyllite,kaolinite,dolomite,illite,muscovite,montmorillonite,topaz and hematite were revealed displaying a significant distribution in relation with the eastern Amlen region lithological units and previously detected mineral potential zones using HyMap imaging spectroscopy.Mainly,a close spatial association between iron oxides and hydroxide minerals,argillic,and phyllic alteration was detected,as well as a strong silicification was detected around doleritic dykes unit in Jbel Lkest area.A weighted overlay approach was used in the integration of hydrothermal alteration minerals and silicification,which allowed the elaboration of a new mineral alteration map of study area with five alteration intensities.ASTER and the various employed processing techniques allowed a practical and cost effective mapping of alteration features,which corroborates well with field survey and X-ray diffraction analysis.Therefore,ASTER data and the employed processing techniques offers a practical approach for mineral prospection in comparable settings.

Assessment of spatial and seasonal water quality variation of Oum Er Rbia River(Morocco)using multivariate statistical techniques

The aim of this study is to assess the spatial and temporal water quality variation and to determine the main contamination sources in the Oum Er Rbia River and its main tributary,El Abid River.The water quality data were collected during 2000-2012 from fourteen sampling stations distributed along the river.The water quality indicators used were TEMP,pH,EC,turbidity,TSS,DO,NH_(4)^(+),NH_(3)^(-),TP,BOD5,COD and F.coli.The water quality data was analyzed using multivariate statistical methods including Pearson's correlation,PCA,and CA.The results showed that in some stations the water quality parameters were over Moroccan water standards.PCA applied to compare the compositional patterns among the analyzed water samples,identified and four factors accounting for almost 63% of the total variation in the data.This suggests that the variations in water compounds’concentration are mainly related to point source contamination(domestic and industrial wastewater),non-point source contamination(agriculture activities),as well as natural processes(weathering of soil and rock).CA showed relatively spatial and seasonal changes in surface water quality,which are usually indicators of contamination with rainfalls or other sources.Overall,this study showed that the water was potentially hazardous to health of the consumers and highlighted the need to treat industrial and municipal wastewater and to encourage sustainable agricultural practices to prevent adverse health effects.We therefore suggest wise management of anthropogenic activities in the catchment of Oum Er Bia River and their tributaries.