MAPPING OF PLIOCENE-PLEISTOCENE ROCK UNITS USING ENHANCED THEMATIC MAPPER PLUS ETM+: CASE STUDY, WADI QASAB AREA, SOUTH EAST SOHAG, EGYPT Bosy A. El-Haddad*, Ahmed M. Youssef *,** , Tawfiq M. Mahran*, and Abdel Hammed El-Sharter* *Geology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Egypt **Geological Hazards Department, Applied Geology Sector, Saudi Geological Survey, P.O. Box 54141, Jeddah 21514, KSA. ABSTRACT Field work for discrimination between different rock units is a very tedious one and a time consuming. However, by using remote sensing techniques the differentiation become easier and time save. The current work is very important in the field of sedimentary rocks, especially because few authors used remote sensing techniques in sedimentary rock discrimination and can provide a good background for more work. This study describes several processing methods, applied to a Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus image of 2007, to develop a reliable method to discriminate between different exposed Pliocene - Pleistocene sedimentary rock units in Wadi Qasab area. The current area in the Nile Valley was formed during the different stages of the Nile evolution and the stratigraphy of these rock units is complicated. By using different enhancement techniques with the help of a supervised classification method, it was found that principal component analysis and minimum noise fraction are the most suitable methods to discriminate between different types of Pliocene – Pleistocene sediments, as well as to map these sediments from the surrounding rock units. Field investigation was used to verify the remote sensing findings. Keywords: ETM+, Sedimentary rocks, principal component analysis, minimum noise fraction, Egypt 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. Study area The Study area (Wadi Qasab area) is situated in the low desert zone, South East of Sohag Governorate, Egypt, in the midway between Cairo and Aswan (Figure 1). The study area is located between the Latitudes 26 o 12' 00'' and 26 o 29' 30'' N and between the Longitudes 31 o 68 00'' and 32 o 14' 00'' E. THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE GEOLOGY OF AFRICA P-P VIII-1 – VIII-13 (NOV. 2013) ASSIUT-EGYPT