Integrated EMIT and PRISMA hyperspectral analysis for mapping high-potential zones of epithermal Cu–Au–Ag sulfide deposits in the Saveh-Yazd copper metallogenic zone, central Iran

Exploration of epithermal Cu–Au–Ag deposits in the Saveh-Yazd copper metallogenic zone, within central Urmia-Dokhtar magmatic arc, Iran, is hindered by complex alteration patterns and structural overprinting. To address this, a novel integration of hyperspectral satellite data from EMIT (Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation) and PRISMA (PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa) with the Constrained Energy Minimization (CEM) algorithm was developed to map hydrothermal alteration and delineate high-potential mineralization zones. Using Adaptive Vertex Component Analysis (AVCA) for endmember extraction, major alteration assemblages, including argillic to advanced argillic, propylitic, oxidation/gossan, and carbonate–zeolitic, were mapped and found to correlate closely with regional faults such as Takht-e-Chaman, Khankeshi, and Kushk-e-Nosrat. Integration with field observations, petrography, and X-ray diffraction confirmed zones of silicification, sericitic, argillic, and propylitic alteration hosting Cu–Au–Ag sulfide mineralization. These results demonstrate that EMIT and PRISMA hyperspectral data combined with CEM processing provide an effective approach for early-stage, sustainable exploration in structurally complex terrains, highlighting the potential of next-generation hyperspectral missions for advancing critical mineral exploration across the Tethyan metallogenic belt.