Improving hybrid outranking methods for porphyry Cu potential mapping, a case study in Chahargonbad region

In this study, evidential layers for porphyry copper mineralization, including geology, lineaments, geophysics, and geochemistry of the Geological map at 1: 100,000 scale of the Chahargonbad district, were weighted and integrated using new and innovative hybrid methods to produce a mineral potential map. For this purpose, all exploration data were first preprocessed and processed using valid and proper methods, and accurate evidential layers were produced. Then, each layer was evaluated, and finally, all evidential layers were integrated to obtain a mineral prospectivity map for porphyry Cu mineralization of the study area. To weigh, evaluate and validate each of the evidential layers and the obtained mineral prospectivity maps, plots of concentration–area (C–A) fractal model and prediction–area (P–A) and normalized density (Nd) as approved methods were conducted. Also, two-hybrid methods of fuzzy gamma and a multi-criteria decision-making outranking method “MOORA” have been applied to mineralization potential mapping. The fuzzy gamma and MOORA results show ore prediction rates of 71% and 76%, which identify 29% and 24% of the area as potential zones. Accordingly, the MOORA method can be used efficiently for mineral prospectivity mapping for further exploration studies.