Utilization of Space-Borne Imagery for Lithologic Mapping: A Case Study From Um Had Area, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Remote sensing data are used to discriminate between the different lithologies covering the Um Had area, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Image processing techniques applied to the Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data are used for mapping and discriminating the different basement lithologies of Um Had area. Principal component analysis (PCA), minimum noise fraction (MNF) transform and band rationing techniques provide efficient data for lithological mapping. The study area is underlain by gneisses, ophiolitic melange assemblage (talc-serpentinite, metagabbro, metabasalt), granitic rocks, Dokhan volcanics, Hammamat sediments and felsites. The resulting gray-scale PC2, PC3 and PC4 images are best to clearly discriminate the Hammamat sediments, amphibolites and talc-serpentinites, respectively. The gray-scale MNF3 and MNF4 images easily discriminate the felsites and talc-serpentinites, respectively. The band ratio 5/7 and 4/5 images are able to delineate the talc-serpentinites and Hammamat sediments, respectively. Information collected from gray-scale and false color composite images led to generation of detailed lithologic map of Um Had area.