143-7 Mapping of Rare Earth Elements and Tectonic Controls in the Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

Session: A Showcase of Student Research in Geoinformatics and Data Science (Posters)

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The Arabian Shield is a key metallogenic province hosting rare earth element (REE) deposits vital for emerging technologies and strategic industries. This study combines multi- and hyperspectral satellite imagery with field and laboratory data to identify REE-bearing lithologies and relate them to regional tectonics in Saudi Arabia. PRISMA hyperspectral data and multispectral imagery from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-8 and -9 were processed to generate mineralogical maps using band ratios, spectral indices, and supervised classification. Ground truthing was conducted through fieldwork approximately 80 km northwest of Khaybar city, where 25 representative rock samples were collected and structural measurements were taken to validate and refine the remote sensing interpretations. The samples were analyzed using a laboratory hyperspectral camera to confirm spectral signatures of key REE indicator minerals such as monazite and allanite. The newly generated mineralogical maps were compared with existing published geological and mineral occurrence maps to assess consistency and highlight previously unrecognized REE anomalies. The integrated analysis reveals that the mapped REE anomalies are spatially associated with major shear zones and NE–SW trending faults of the Najd Fault System. These findings highlight the role of tectonic structures in localizing REE mineralization and demonstrate the effectiveness of combining remote sensing, fieldwork, lab analysis, and comparative map validation for strategic resource exploration in the Arabian Shield.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10236

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