Mapping of Hydrothermal Alteration of Dashkasan (Sari Gunay) Epithermal Gold Mine using ASTER Sensor Images and XRD Analysis

The study area is located at 42 km NE of Qorveh city, in Kordestan Province and in the Metamorphic– Magmatic Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. There are other important gold mines such as the Zarshouran and Aghdarreh mines in this zone. The most important alterations of the region are sericitic (phyllic), argillic, silicification and propylitic respectively. Therefore, in this research, the phyllic and argillic alterations were the main purpose and by using different techniques of images processing of satellite images such as: False Color Composition, Band Ratio, Principal Component analysis, Crosta and finally by Spectral Angle Mapper methods iron oxides and development of alterations have been recognized. For accuracy between field evidences and results of software processing, X-Ray Diffraction analysis were used for controlling and recognizing the index minerals of each zone. Then, the comparison between standard and the study area curves were done to confirm the obtaining results. Finally, this method was effective in recognizing and mapping of the hydrothermal alterations.