Application of Remote sensing techniques in discrimination of rock units and preliminary assessment of tectonic activity using ASTER and ALOSE-PALSAR data at Gabal Delihimmi, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

KHALIFA, Abdelrahman

doi:10.21608/egjg.2023.243614.1059

Application of Remote sensing techniques in discrimination of rock units and preliminary assessment of tectonic activity using ASTER and ALOSE-PALSAR data at Gabal Delihimmi, Central Eastern Desert, Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Abdelrahman KHALIFA

Nasr City, Waha City, St., 3. Block 3, Building 12

10.21608/egjg.2023.243614.1059

Abstract

The current study examines the validity of remote sensing and tectonic geomorphology techniques in delineating different lithologies and inferring the relative tectonic activity in arid areas. Principle Component Analysis, spectral Band Ratioing, and Minimum Noise Fraction Analysis were applied using the satellite ASTER data of Gabal Delihimmi area in Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Additionally, mountain front sinuosity and valley floor width to valley height ratio as two major geomorphic indices were extracted and calculated from the ALOSE-PALSAR digital elevation model along 25 different tectonic elements in the study area. Processing of Aster 9 bands facilitates discrimination of Gabal Delihimmi lithologies by updating the recently published map of the study area. The illustration of the diagram based on values of studied mountain front sinuosity and valley floor width to valley height ratio shows three different relative tectonic activity classes: low, moderate, and high. Accordingly, two normal and three strike-slip faults provide a moderate class of tectonic activity while the lowest record of activity values was observed along the fold that is located in the south-eastern corner of the study area. As a result, in this study, an up-to-date geological map of Gabal Delihimmi area based on the visual interpretation of the processed ASTER data reveals the presence of several geological boundaries and tectonic offsets. This work demonstrates that remote sensing and geomorphic indices are very valuable tools in lithological discrimination and assessing tectonic activity signals and therefore they can be applied successfully to other similar regions where climate is arid and vegetation is rare.

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