Application of fuzzy AHP method to IOCG prospectivity mapping: A case study in Taherabad prospecting area, eastern Iran

• Published in: ITC journal Vol. 33; pp. 142 - 154
• Main Authors: Najafi, Ali, Karimpour, Mohammad Hassan, Ghaderi, Majid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied geophysics; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Eastern Iran; Exact sciences and technology; Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process; Internal geophysics; Iron Oxide Copper-Gold deposits; Mineral prospectivity mapping; Multi-criteria decision-making; Middle East; Iran; Asia; Mineral prospectivity mapping; Eastern Iran; Fuzzy analytical hierarchy process; Iron Oxide Copper-Gold deposits; Multi-criteria decision-making; models; exploration; oxides; Decision making; iron oxides; Space remote sensing; geographic information systems; case studies; gold; mineralization; copper; iron; methodology
• ISSN: 0303-2434; 1569-8432; 1872-826X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jag.2014.05.003

•We used fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (FAHP) to propose a method for mineral prospectivity mapping.•Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) is commonly used for exploration of mineral deposits.•The FAHP is a popular technique which has been applied for multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems.•Knowledge-driven method is appropriate in frontier or less-explored geologically permissive area.•Assignment of proper weights to individual evidential maps is a highly subjective exercise. Using fuzzy analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique, we propose a method for mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) which is commonly used for exploration of mineral deposits. The fuzzy AHP is a popular technique which has been applied for multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) problems. In this paper we used fuzzy AHP and geospatial information system (GIS) to generate prospectivity model for Iron Oxide Copper-Gold (IOCG) mineralization on the basis of its conceptual model and geo-evidence layers derived from geological, geochemical, and geophysical data in Taherabad area, eastern Iran. The FuzzyAHP was used to determine the weights belonging to each criterion. Three geoscientists knowledge on exploration of IOCG-type mineralization have been applied to assign weights to evidence layers in fuzzy AHP MPM approach. After assigning normalized weights to all evidential layers, fuzzy operator was applied to integrate weighted evidence layers. Finally for evaluating the ability of the applied approach to delineate reliable target areas, locations of known mineral deposits in the study area were used. The results demonstrate the acceptable outcomes for IOCG exploration.