A GIS-based weights-of-evidence model for mineral potential mapping of hydrothermal gold deposits in Torbat-e-Heydarieh area, east of Iran

The method of weights of evidence is one of the most important data driven methods for mineral potential mapping in GIS. In this method, considering the characteristics of known mineralized locations, we can prospect new mineralized areas. In this research work, the method of weights of evidence has been used for hydrothermal gold potential mapping in Torbat-e-Heydarieh area, east of Iran. As a relatively large number of gold mineral occurrences (i.e., exactly 27 known gold mineralized locations) have been recognized in the study area, the use of the weights of evidence method for prospecting new gold mineralized zones in the area may be quite efficient. In this study, a combination of the results of the airborne geophysical, geological, argillic, propillitic and iron oxide alteration, geochemical and structural data based on the method of weights of evidence, has been made to determine probable gold mineralization zones in the form of a posteriori map of the survey area. Consequently, four major zones in this area have been identified as high gold mineralization potential zones, in which many vein and veinlet mineralization forms can be found.