Mining of Mineral Deposits

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Integrated geophysical and aerial photogrammetry approach for detailed delineation of iron ore mineralization in lateritic deposits

Muhammad Junaid1,2, Furqan Khan3, Badee Alshameri4, Sami Ullah Shah5, Muhammad Zaka Emad6, Tariq Feroze2

1GEOTECH 2.0 Research Lab, Engineering College, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

2Department of Sustainable Advanced Geomechanical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Risalpur, Pakistan

3Department of Mining Engineering, Karakoram International University, Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan

4Department of Geotechnical Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Pakistan

4Department of Construction Engineering and Management and Surveying, National University of Sciences and Technology, Risalpur, Pakistan

6College of Petroleum Engineering & Geosciences, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia


Min. miner. depos. 2026, 20(1):80-89


https://doi.org/10.33271/mining20.01.078

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      ABSTRACT

      Purpose. This study integrates unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and Magnetic and 2D Electrical Resistivity Tomography (2D ERT) surveys to delineate subsurface laterite ore mineralization zones while reducing exploration costs. UAV imagery enabled the reconstruction of high-resolution digital elevation models and orthomosaics, providing detailed topographic information for survey planning.

      Methods. Magnetic survey integrated with 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles were applied to characterize subsurface lithology and identify layers such as topsoil, shale, and laterite.

      Findings. The ERT survey reveals that the topsoil is 3 meters thick and has a resistivity range of 10-50 Ω.m. The resistivity of shale varied between 50 and 150 Ω.m, with a thickness of two meters. The laterite ore was identified with resistivity values between 150 and 1200 Ω·m and a thickness of 5 m. Magnetic surveys identified magnetic anomalies of 200-600 nT, estimated at a depth of 3-5 m using forward modeling. Regional-scale interpretations from total magnetic intensity (TMI), reduced-to-pole (RTP), and continuation maps highlighted the detailed distribution of the magnetic anomalies throughout the study area, lithological variations, fault systems, and deep-seated magnetized bodies.

      Originality. This study demonstrates an integrated, low-cost workflow for lateritic mineralization that uses detailed geophysical data, including magnetic methods, 2D ERT, and UAV photogrammetry. Conventional techniques are quite expensive relative to the value of the ore.

      Practical implications. The results demonstrate that the integration of aerial photogrammetry, magnetic surveys, and 2D electrical resistivity tomography provides an efficient and cost-effective approach for delineating laterite ore mineralization zones and can serve as a viable alternative to conventional exploration methods.

      Keywords: laterite ore; electrical resistivity tomography; magnetic survey; unmanned aerial vehicle; mineral exploration


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