Delineation of new mineral prospects using ZY1-02D data in the Chitral Region, Hindukush, NW Pakistan

• Utilized advanced hyperspectral remote sensing methods, including False Color Composite (FCC), Match Filtering (MF), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), and Spectral Index (SI) analysis on ZY1-02D data to detect alteration minerals in the Chitral Hindukush region. • Successfully identified key alteration minerals such as muscovite/sericite, kaolinite, epidote, chlorite, and calcite associated with mineralization; and field validation confirmed copper and iron oxide mineralization at Sewakhth, Chitral City (Jughur Gol), Drosh, and Maroi. • Demonstrated the effectiveness of ZY1-02D hyperspectral data in precise lithological mapping and mineral exploration, offering valuable contributions to geoscientific research and mineral resource assessment in metallogenic zones. Recent advancements in hyperspectral remote sensing have revolutionized mineral detection and enhanced the precision of lithological mapping. The Chitral region, situated in the northwest of Pakistan’s collisional belt, is characterized by the Hindukush mountainous terrain and emerges as a prominent metallogenic zone. The regional structural trend of the region hosts a diverse array of significant mineral potentials, i.e., iron ore bodies, orogenic gold occurrences, polymetallic veins, and copper mineralization, which offers an exciting opportunity to explore these economic mineral. To assess these potentials, this research utilizes ZY1-02D hyperspectral data to delineate mineral information for identifying prospective alteration zones in the Chitral area. We applied False Color Composite (FCC), Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF), Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), and Spectral Index (SI) techniques to ZY1-02D data to detect alteration minerals and delineate prospective zones. The analysis of ZY1-02D data enabled the identification of muscovite/sericite, kaolinite, epidote, chlorite, and calcite, highlighting significant mineralogical changes linked to alteration events. The alteration mineral maps generated from ZY1-02D data align well with established deposits and field assessments, which reveal copper and iron oxide mineralization at four specific spots, i.e., Sewakhth, Chitral City along Jughur Gol, Drosh, and Maroi area. This study highlights the efficacy of ZY1-02D data in enhancing mineral exploration and lithological mapping, providing significant insights for the geoscientific community and advancing the development of remote sensing applications in geological research.