A simple procedure for the integration of non-digital data into lineament analysis as an exploration tool

A problem frequently faced by exploration geologists who attempt to compile data from different sources is the integration of non-digital data (e.g., hard copy of a map) with digital data such as D.E.M. or satellite imagery. This integration is crucial for the improvement of the prediction capability of the TechnoTectonics Method (TM) developed by the author in 1999. The TechnoTectonics Method (TM) is an original combination of quantitative lineament analysis of satellite and air photos or topographic data, 3D physical modeling of strain and stress analysis, and structural interpretation of rose diagrams. To integrate the non-digital data as an additional layer of information Adobe Photoshop is used to analyze the scanned images of these sources by first decomposing the color composition of each pixel into RGB, HSB, CMYK, Lab, or total gray scales. The obtained matrix of data is then treated with a system of statistical procedures that integrates all these layers of information into a "prospective map" that shows the areas of possible location of new mineralized zones. The integration is accomplished by establishing a correlation coefficient capable of recognizing mineralized zones similar to the zone of existing mineralization which is used as the initial target. This procedure is described in the case study of the Alisitos Ni-Au project in Sinaloa, Mexico, D.F. The TechnoTectonics Method (TM) and the decomposition of scanned images into digital data are effective low-cost exploration tools.