Mapping Mineral Potential Using Geospatial Techniques: A Case Study Of Mui Basin In Kitui County

Abstract

The process of mineral exploration over the past has been expensive and time consuming and for this reason advanced techniques are being applied in order to save on cost and time and to identify the mineral potential zones. Geospatial techniques are among the techniques that are being applied in mineral exploration and this study shows how this is achieved using Mui Basin in Kitui County as the case study. In the study, a Landsat 8 image was used for hydrothermal alteration mapping and an existing geology map of the study area was used to identify the lithological units as well as faults. Hydrothermal alteration which is a geochemical factor and geological factors which include lithological units and faults are the primary factors used to show how suitable the study area is for mineral exploration. Color composites and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) techniques were applied in hydrothermal alteration mapping and the results showed hydroxyls which are associated with altered areas while the geology map was used in the preparation of geological suitability factor maps. These layers were then assigned weights using the Delphi model and integrated in a GIS environment using Weighted Index Overlay technique which yielded the mineral potential map of Mui Basin. The map classifies the study area according to its suitability for mineral exploration i.e. Most Suitable, Moderately Suitable and Least Suitable. The study was meant to show how suitable the area is for mineral exploration especially potential for coal since it has already been discovered in the study area. The results showed potential for coal where the most suitable area for mineral exploration covers the biggest part of the coal mining block. This research project can therefore be applied for mineral potential mapping at any other area and use of geophysical data in addition to the data used in this project would yield better results since more factors will have been considered to identify areas suitable for mining. The results of this study have therefore shown that geospatial techniques are crucial in reducing the massive fieldwork and identifying potential areas for mineral exploration.