New geophysical insights into gold mineralization at Gabal Abu Marawat, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Abstract The Abu Marawat district in the Central Eastern Desert of Egypt hosts significant gold mineralization, yet the deep structural and magmatic controls governing its distribution have remained poorly constrained. This study applies an integrated magnetic interpretation workflow to resolve the structural architecture of the mineral system. By combining reduced-to-pole (RTP) and upward-continued fields with advanced edge-detection filters (TAHG, LTHG) and automated lineament extraction, we document a deep-seated, regionally persistent N–S to NNE–SSW shear corridor. This D3-related structural framework overprints earlier NE–SW and NW–SE fabrics and exerts first-order control on gold localization along rheological contacts. Crucially, Circular Feature Transform (CFT) analysis identifies depth-persistent, ring-like magnetic anomalies coincident with felsic intrusions at Abu Marawat gold mine and G. Wae’ra. These CFT-defined circular magnetic anomalies, tentatively interpreted as possible intrusive centers, raise the hypothesis that Abu Marawat may host a hybrid orogenic–magmatic component, which requires independent verification. Depth estimations using Euler deconvolution and Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) define a vertically integrated architecture: shallow shear-hosted rock units (< 0.8 km) are connected via deep-rooted fault networks (resolved > 1.5 km depth). Finally, a fuzzy-logic prospectivity model was developed by integrating structural complexity, CFT anomalies, depth solutions, and lithologies. The model is spatially consistent with known deposits falling within high fuzzy-membership (high-favorability) zones, which were used, in part, to inform the model's lithological favorability criteria; this spatial coincidence should therefore be interpreted with caution rather than as independent validation and delineates several underexplored, high-favorability segments along the Semna–Miranda Gossans gold mines and Abu Marawat corridor. This study illustrates how combining advanced magnetic filtering with fuzzy logic to constrain exploration targets, and indicates a notable role of N–S deep-seated shears, and CFT-defined circular magnetic anomalies in the Arabian-Nubian Shield's gold metallogeny.