ORIGINAL PAPER Integration of remote sensing data with the field and laboratory investigation for lithological mapping of granitic phases: Kadabora pluton, Eastern Desert, Egypt Ahmed Mohamed Youssef & Asran Mohamed Hassan & Mohamed Abd El Moneim Mohamed Received: 15 July 2008 / Accepted: 28 October 2008 / Published online: 23 December 2008 # Saudi Society for Geosciences 2008 Abstract In the current study, an integration of Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+), field, and laboratory data have been used for lithological mapping of different granitic phases in the Kadabora area, Eastern Desert, Egypt. Application of enhancement techniques, including a new proposed band ratio combination (ratio 5/3, 3/1, 7/5 in RGB, respectively) and supervised classification images are used in discriminating different granitic phases in the Kadabora pluton from each other and from their environs. The data have been proved with the help of field and geochemical investigations. The results revealed that: (1) the Kadabora granitic pluton could be distinguished into three phases that recognized by field and laboratory investigation including granodiorite (phase I), monzogran- ite (phase II), and syeno-alkali feldspar granite (phase III). These phases are arranged according to their relative ages while the country rocks include ophiolitic mélange and metagabbro–diorite complex. It is also confirmed that the granitic pluton is invaded by dyke swarms which is trending in N–S direction. Geochemically, results show that the granodiorite is calc-alkaline, I-type and formed under subduction tectonic regime. Monzogranite falls within the alkaline and highly fractionated calc-alkaline granites, whereas syeno-alkali feldspar granite extends into proper alkaline granitoids field. Monzogranite and syeno- alkali feldspar granite belong to the A 2 -subtype granite. This A 2 -subtype granite was probably formed in an extensional regime, subsequent to subduction which can lead to tensional break-up of the crust (i.e., post-collisional, post-orogenic granites). The monzogranite and the syeno- alkali feldspar granite were probably formed by partial melting of relatively anhydrous lower crust source and/or tonalite to granodiorite is viable alternative to the granulite source. Keywords Remote sensing . Mapping . Granite phases . Geochemistry Introduction The Precambrian Nubian shield forms an elongate belt, which has its maximum width in the south and narrows gradually to the north. It is characterized by four main rock sequences including a gneiss assemblage (that comprises the core complexes), an ophiolite assemblage, an island arc assemblage, and granitoid intrusions (Abdel Naby et al. 2000; Abdel Naby and Frisch 2002). The Neoproterozoic rocks of the Eastern Desert of Egypt are divided according to Stern and Hedge (1985) into three tectonic domains: the Northern Eastern Desert (NED), the Central Eastern Desert (CED), and the Southern Eastern Desert (SED). The NED domain lies north of latitude 26° 30′ N. The SED domain lies south of latitude 24° 30′ N. The CED domain lies in between (Fig. 1a). Stern (1994) and Kusky and Matsah (2003) mentioned that these rocks are formed in the East African Orogen during the collision between East and West Gondwana and the closure of the Mozambique Ocean 600 Ma. Arab J Geosci (2009) 2:69–82 DOI 10.1007/s12517-008-0020-2 A. M. Youssef (*) : A. M. Hassan Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt e-mail: amyoussef70@yahoo.com M. A. E. M. Mohamed Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt