Application of Fuzzy Gamma Operator to Generate Mineral Prospectivity Mapping for Cu-Mo Porphyry Deposits (Case Study: Kighal-Bourmolk Area, Northwestern Iran)

The main aim of mineral exploration is to discover the ore deposits. The mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) methods by employing multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) integrate the exploration layers. This research work combines the geological, alteration, and geochemical data in order to generate MPM in the Kighal-Bourmolk Cu-Mo porphyry deposit. The overlaying of rock units and fault layers was used to prepare the geological layer. The remote sensing and geological studies were employed in order to create an alteration layer. For generating the geo-chemistry layer, the stream sediment and lithogeochemical data were utilized. The lithogeochemistry layer was categorized into 9 ones including Cu, Mo, Bi, Te, the alteration indices (e.g. potassic, phyllic, and propylitic), and the geochemical zonality indices (e.g. Vz1 and Vz2). In addition, the stream sediment layer was categorized into 6 layers including Cu, Mo, Bi, Te, and the geochemical zonality indices (e.g. Vz1 and Vz2). By examination of the created layers, the consistency of the potential areas was verified by field surveys. Afterward, the weights were assigned to each layer considering the conceptual model of porphyry copper systems. Consequently, the layers were integrated by the fuzzy gamma operator technique, and the final MPM was generated. Regarding the generated MPM, 0.86% of the studied area shows a high potential porphyry mineralization, and these areas are proposed for the subsequent exploration drilling locations.