Using GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making techniques, i.e. mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM), specific spatial problems can be solved by combining information from different sources. Orogenic gold mineralisation shows weak exploration signals on the surface that can challenge exploration geologists. This study investigates the ability of a MPM method called evidential belief functions (EBFs) to identify a local orogenic gold mineralisation in the Godaesorkh gold deposit, north of Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (Central Iran). Several evidential layers such as geological, structural, geophysical, remote sensing, and geochemical layers were generated by applying various processing methods. These layers are integrated to attain a MPM by applying the EBFs based on Dempster-Shafer's rules. Precise selection of evidential layers and higher number of known mineral occurrences may lead to a higher degree of belief in the mineral prospectivity map. Accordingly, high probability values were correlated with the gold mineralisation in the study area, and three separate areas were identified as promising with N40E and N15W trends. It is concluded that the orogenic gold mineralisation occurred in shear zones, which is mainly controlled by tectonic structures. Consequently, analysing these structures can be considered as a key feature for identifying potential orogenic gold mineralisation zones in the study area.
The Baghu gold deposit, hosted by a granitoid stock as well as volcanic rocks, is located in Northern Iran. The igneous rocks consist of granodiorite and granite as well as volcanic rocks, such as basaltic andesite and andesite, which are cut by dioritic dykes. The igneous rocks have metaluminous, high K calc‐alkaline, and island‐arc signatures, characterized by enrichment in large‐ion lithophile elements (LILEs) and depletion in high‐field‐strength elements (HFSEs). Zircon separates yield U–Pb ages of 47, 43, and 38 Ma for the volcanics, granitoid rocks, and dyke, respectively, indicating that the magmatism associated with gold–copper mineralization occurred during the Eocene. The low Ba/Th, Th/Nb, Ba/La, and Th/Yb ratios in igneous rocks indicate that their mantle source was not likely modified by subduction activity. A comparison of La/Sm against La (ppm), similar Th/Nb and Th/Yb, and average (La/Yb) n ratios to the crust and lower continental crust (LCC) suggests that the magmatism in the Baghu was likely associated with partial melting of juvenile lower crust, induced by north‐westward subduction of the Neo‐Tethys oceanic lithosphere in an extensional setting.