Fuzzy outranking approach: A knowledge-driven method for mineral prospectivity mapping

This paper describes the application of a new multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) technique called fuzzy outranking to map prospectivity for porphyry Cu Mo deposits. Various raster-based evidential layers involving geological, geophysical, and geochemical geo-data sets are integrated for mineral prospectivity mapping (MPM). In a case study, 13 layers of the Now Chun deposit located in the Kerman eywords: nowledge-driven method ineral prospectivity mapping arious geo-data sets uzzy Outranking Method STER Data province of Iran are used to explore the region of interest. The outputs are validated using 21 boreholes drilled in this area. Comparison of the output prospectivity map with concentrations of Cu and Mo in the boreholes indicates that the fuzzy outranking MCDM is a useful tool for MPM. The proposed method shows a high performance for MPM thereby reducing the cost of exploratory drilling in the study area. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.