Cartografía Predictiva Mediante Sig De Depósitos Epitermales De Oro En Cabo De Gata, Almería, España

Rigol-Sánchez, J. P Chica-Olmo, M., Rodríguez-Galiano, V., y Pardo-Igúzquiza, E. 2011. Cartografía predictiva mediante SIG de depósitos epitermales de oro ., en Cabo de Gata, Almería, España. Boletín Geológico y Minero, 122 (4): 517-530 ISSN: 0366-0176

Cartografía predictiva mediante SIG de depósitos epitermales de oro en Cabo de Gata, Almería, España
J. P. Rigol-Sánchez(1), M. Chica-Olmo(2),V. Rodríguez-Galiano(2) y E. Pardo-Igúzquiza(3)
(1) Laboratorio RSGIS, Departamento de Geología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Jaén, E-23071 Jaén, Spain. Fax: +34 953 012141 jprigol@ujaen.es (2) Laboratorio RSGIS, Departamento de Geodinámica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, E-18071 Granada, Spain. Fax: +34 958 243363 mchica@ugr.es y vrgaliano@ugr.es (3) IGME – InstitutoGeológico y Minero de España, Calle Ríos Rosas 23, E-28003 Madrid, Spain. e.pardo@igme.es

RESUMEN El objetivo principal de la cartografía de potencialidad minera es generar un mapa predictivo que muestre la distribución espacial de un índice numérico de favorabilidad a la presencia de un depósito del tipo buscado. En este trabajo se investiga la favorabilidad de depósitos epitermales de oro en elcampo volcánico Cabo de Gata, Almería, España, mediante la aplicación de distintos métodos de cartografía predictiva con SIG. El rendimiento de los mapas predictivos es comparable en la mayor parte de los casos, aunque los métodos basados en los datos son capaces de capturar mejor la distribución espacial de los indicios conocidos. Palabras clave: análisis espacial de datos geológicos, Cabo de Gata,cartografía de potencialidad minera, exploración de oro, SIG

Predictive mapping using GIS to locate epithermal gold deposits at Cabo de Gata (Prov. of Almería, Spain)
ABSTRACT The main aim of mineral potential mapping is to generate predictive maps showing the spatial distribution of a numerical index of favourability for the presence of a mineral deposit of the type sought. We have studiedthe mineral favourability for epithermal gold deposits in the Cabo de Gata volcanic field in the Province of Almeria in Spain. Predictive maps deriving from the models suggest the presence of several potentially favourable zones. The performance of predictive maps is similar in most cases. Nevertheless, data-driven methods are able to capture more readily the spatial distribution of known goldoccurrences in the area. Keywords: Cabo de Gata, geological spatial data analysis, GIS, gold exploration, predictive mapping

ABRIDGED ENGLISH VERSION Modern mining exploration is characterized by the use of diverse survey and sampling methods, supported by geological and mining knowledge of the region in question, together with the application of sophisticated geophysical, geochemical and remotesensing prospecting techniques. Thus, once the required data have been collected, experts try to minimize the risk of failure by checking that the maximum amount of information is extracted from the exploratory data, that is to say, that the data interpretation process is optimized (Chica-Olmo et al., 2002). It is necessary therefore to have access to the most effective methods ofmineral-exploration data analysis and integration. The main objective of mineral potential mapping is to generate a predictive map that represents the spatial distribution of a numeric indicator of favourability for the presence of a deposit, i.e. a spatial mineral potential index (SMPI). This task typically involves the classification of each geovariable, relevant map and layer according to its favourabilitytowards the presence of the type of mineral deposit sought. These classified layers are then combined following mathematical inference rules (probabilistic, arithmetical, logical etc.). The aim of our research was twofold: on the one hand, to seek to improve our knowledge about the spatial distribution of potential epithermal gold deposits in the volcanic field of Cabo de Gata in Almería (Spain) and...