Ma. Alwash et J. Zilger, REMOTE SENSING-BASED GEOLOGICAL MAPPING OF THE AREA WEST OF AL-MADINAH, SAUDI-ARABIA, International journal of remote sensing, 15(1), 1994, pp. 163-172
The paper describes the methodology and results obtained during the ge
ological mapping of the area north-west of the Holy city of Al Madinah
Al Munawwarah in Saudi Arabia on the basis of Landsat Thematic Mapper
data at a scale of 1:100000. The application of very sophisticated im
age processing algorithms yielded an image basis. The spectral units d
isplayed were interpreted and then correlated to the lithological unit
s along significant profiles during a field campaign. A thin section s
tudy of the rock samples supported the lithological classification. Ge
nerally, the region can be divided into two main geological units, nam
ely the Precambrian basement rocks and the basaltic extrusive rocks of
Harrat Al Rahat plateau which is covering the basement rocks in the e
ast and the southeast. The basement rocks consist of a wide range of i
ntrusive sedimentary and extrusive series, all metamorphorised with va
rying intensities. The lack of vegetation cover and the effective meth
ods used in the remote sensing data interpretation allowed a practical
ly clear distinction between the different lithological units, as veri
fied during the field work. This result testifies to the high value of
the application of remote sensing data in Saudi Arabia.