Using ETM+ and ASTER sensors to identify iron occurrences in the Esfordi 1:100,000 mapping sheet of Central Iran

Many iron occurrences and deposits exist in the Central Iranian structural zone, especially in the Bafq district. The Esfordi 1:100,000 mapping sheet is located in this region and there are several iron mines and deposits, e.g. Chadormalu, Choghart, Seh-Chahoon, Mishdowan and Zaghia. The aim of this study is to identify and detect the iron bearing occurrences by utilizing the Landsat ETM+ and the Advanced Space-borne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite data. Several methods consist of Linear Band Prediction (LS-Fit), Matched Filtering (MF), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), Spectral Feature Fitting (SFF), Band Ratio (BR: 2/1 and 3/1) and Visual interpretation (RGB: 531) were used for this purpose. Structures were identified by visual interpretation of images and band combinations (RGB: 431). Target areas were found by LS-Fit, MF and SAM overlapping being situated in the North and the North-East, Central and North Western parts of the Esfordi mapping sheet which is now proposed for iron occurrences prospecting. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.