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Mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM) based on the principle of geometric mean was applied to stream sediment geochemical, fault density, and aeromagnetic data from Tagmout basin, Morocco to determine new areas for optimizing copper exploration. The application of a fuzzy operator using stream sediment data, factor analysis, and fault density map, allowed weights to be assigned to these parameters so that the MPM function can process them to indicate the most favorable zones of copper mineralization. The model's accuracy as evaluated using a normalized density index (Nd with value 1.22) shows the reliability of the method. The potential copper concentration areas represent 8.22% of the entire basin of which 30% are concentrated in the western portion of the basin and other significant areas are in the southwest and northeast portions. The results indicate that MPM is a powerful technique for planning exploration programs that aim for sustainable mining activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeromagnetic data were analyzed, constrained by geological and ore deposit mapping to investigate possible regions within the Igherm inlier region of the Anti-Atlas in western Morocco that are favorable for more detailed copper exploration. The aeromagnetic data were investigated by creating reduction to the pole (RTP), upward continuation and tilt-angle anomaly maps. Additionally, depths to magnetic susceptibility sources were estimated using three-dimensional Euler deconvolution and tilt-angle depth methods. The RTP map indicated several anomalous regions where magnetic maxima can be related to Paleoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic metamorphic and volcanic rocks located between the uplifted regions in the northern portion of the Igherm inlier region. The western portion of the study area is characterized by short wavelength, NE-trending magnetic maxima that are related to Pan-African orogeny volcanic units. Derivative maps indicate that the majority of the lineaments are NE-trending probably related to post Pan-African rifting. However, there are several NW- and E-trending lineaments related to the Variscan orogeny. The depths of the sources of these lineaments range between 100 m and 5200 m, with the deeper depths mainly trending toward the northeast. Using the derivative analysis, RTP, magnetically determined depth estimates and the nature of known copper deposits in the region (e.g., Tizert deposit), several regions were determined to be favorable for more detailed mineral exploration. These regions are located along the edges of Proterozoic uplifts where paleobasins containing Basal Series sediments have been affected by mainly NE-trending faults that act as conduits for deeper magmatically formed ore-rich fluids. • First detailed magnetic analysis of the Igherm region of Morocco. • First detailed analysis of copper exploration of the Igherm region. • Copper deposits are related to faults related to Proterozoic tectonics. • A magnetic derivative analysis indicated that magnetic sources are between 100 and 5200 m. • Most copper deposits are located along the edges of Proterozoic uplifts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]