Iron ore prospecting based on very low frequency-electromagnetic and geoelectrical resistivity at Wadi Abu Subeira, Northeastern Aswan, South Egypt

Abstract

The serious need and high demand of iron oxides in cement industry urges to carry out critical investigation in vicinity of cement factories in South Egypt Governorates. The considered area Wadi Abu Subeira lies to the north east of Aswan. The possible occurrences of hematite in the subsurface enforced to carry out some geophysical measurements in the in the form of very low frequency-electromagnetic and geoelectrical resistivity.A total number of 684 very low frequency-electromagnetic and 54 vertical electrical soundings stations were executed along 9 surveying profiles arranged on three long traverses, running from west to east direction. The data sets were comprehensively and steadily inverted/transformed in terms of subsurface electric resistivity/EM-equivalent current-density. Both the vertical and lateral resistivity/current-density variations were able to image the typical shallow stratigraphic sequence of the area. The present study emphasized the robustness and cost-efficiency of applying the very low frequency-electromagnetic and geoelectrical resistivity techniques in a field like iron ore exploration.