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University of Nevada Reno Hydrogeologic Significance Of University of Nevada Reno Hydrogeologic Significance Of Landsat Thematic Mapper Lineament Analyses In The Great Basin A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Hydrology/Hydrogeology by Paul Edward McBeth Jr. MINE* l ibr ar y 1^1 ;£3i 5 The thesis of Paul E. McBeth Jr. is approved: A ) 3 5 ____ /.'i Thesis Advisor University of Nevada Reno July, 1986 iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank his advisors for their technical guidance, literary critiques and encouragement. Dr. Clarence Skau, Dr. Steve Wheatcraft, Dean James Taranik and Michael Dettinger spent a considerable amount of their time throughout the two years of my Masters program providing direction and advice. In addition, I would like to recognize and thank my wife, Sharon. Her love and support allowed me to dedicate one hundred percent of my time towards graduate school. Finally, I must thank my daughter Andrea, who unknowingly provided excellent encouragement through the last several months of work on this thesis. IV ABSTRACT Hydrogeologic Significance of Landsat Thematic Mapper Lineament Analyses In The Great Basin Paul E. MeBeth Jr. University of Nevada, Reno July, 1986 Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper digital data covering the Coyote Spring Valley area of southeastern Nevada was enhanced to produce a false color composite image that highlighted lineaments. Lineaments were analyzed based on their statistical distribution and with correlations to geologic maps, regional ^ geophysics (aeromagnetics and gravity) and field discontinuity data to produce a conceptual model of aquifer conditions of the southern White River Flow System. Lineaments were combined with geophysics to interpret large structures that delineate the basement of the regional carbonate aquifer. Whereas the C geophysics often provided the basis for interpretations, lineaments provided a mappable boundary that was unrecognized in the field and on small scale photographs. The extension of bedrock lineaments across alluvial basins identified underlying carbonate blocks that complicated the flow system. Field discontinuity data indicated the distribution of secondary porosity correlated with the distribution of lineaments; the lineaments provide an indication of the anisotropic properties of the carbonate system. V TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii ABSTRACT iv INTRODUCTION 1 LINEAMENTS 3 DEFINITION 3 SYMBOLOBY 7 OTHER LITERATURE 8 HYDROGEOLOGIC SIGNIFICANCE 9 COYOTE SPRINGS LINEAR FEATURES CONCEPTUAL MODEL 16 INTRODUCTION 16 Location 16 Geology 16 White River Flow System 24 Previous Work 27 LINEAR FEATURES MAPS 29 Image Construction 29 Lineament Criteria 31 Lineament Maps 31 REGIONAL LINEAMENTS 34 TREND ANALYSIS 37 Background 37 Strike Frequency Histograms 37 Linear Feature Concentration Contour Maps 38 Linear Features Analysis 38 FIELD DISCONTINUITY DATA 46 Introduction 46 Discontinuity Criteria 47 Graphical Representation of Pole Data 53 Lineaments 55 Field Sites 55 Double Canyons 55 Fault Canyon 64 Rattlesnake Canyon 64 Crooked Canyon 74 Page Composite Plots 74 Composite Poles and Lineament Trend Data 78 Summary 78 RELATION OF GEOPHYSICAL DATA BASES TO LINEAMENTS 81 Lineaments and Gravity 81 Lineaments and Magnetics 83 Summary 85 HYDROGEOLOGIC INTERPRETATIONS 86 Significance of Lineaments 86 Carbonate Aquifer 87 CONCLUSIONS 91 REFERENCES CITED 92 APPENDICES 101 A. METHODOLOGY 102 Landsat Thematic Mapper Data 103 Advantages 103 Landsats 4 and 5 104 Data Collection 104 Choice of Data 108 Image Production 116 Computer Processing 117 Contrast Manipulation 117 Spatial Filtering 122 Image Development 126 Contrast Enhanced Image Analysis 128 Filtered Image Analysis 130 Combination Image 132 B. LINEAMENT DATA VALUES 136 Azimuth and Length 137 C. FIELD DATA VALUES 141 Discontinuity Poles 142 Transect Data 100 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Secondary Porosity Developed Along Fractures and Lineament Traces. 10 2. Relationship Between Groundwater Well Productivity and Location To Fracture Traces. 14 3. Relationship Between Groundwater Well Productivity and Location To Lineaments. 14 4. Mapped Lineaments In Bedrock and Alluvium. 15 5. Extended Lineaments That Define Fracures In Alluvial Areas. 15 6. Location Map For Study Areas. 17 7. Columnar Section of Rocks Exposed In the Arrow Canyon Range, Nevada. 19 8. Stratigraphic Cross-section Through the Muddy Mountains-Arrow Canyon Range-Pahranagat Range. 20 9. Generalized Hydrostratigraphic Units of the Study Area. 21 10. Simplified Tectonic Map of the Study Area. 23 11. , White River Flow System. 25 12. Lineament Map of Study Area. 33 13. Frequency Plots of Lineament Data. 40 14. Lineament Concentration Contour Plot (0° to 180°). 41 15. Lineament Concentration Contour Plot (50° to 100°). 42 16. Lineament Concentration Contour Plot (160° to 180°). 43 17. Lineament Concentration Contour Plot (110° to 130°). 44 18. Photograph At South Double Canyon Transect. 48 19. Photograph Illustrating Jointing In Carbonates. 50 20. Photograph Illustrating Solution Porosity. 51 21. Photograph Illustrating Discontinuity Measurement Technique On Joint Surface. 54 22. Equal Area Stereonet Projection. 56 23. Equal Area Contour Plot of Discontinuity Poles. 56 24. Lineament Map of Field Study Area. 57 25. Site Location Map For Double Canyons. 58 26. South Double Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 61 27. South Double Canyon Transect Poles. 61 28. North Double Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 62 viii Page 29. North Double Canyon Transect Poles. 62 30. Double Canyons Composite Poles. 63 31. Double Canyon Composite Contours. 63 32. Site Location Map For Fault Canyon. 65 33. Fault Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 66 34. Crooked Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 66 35. Site Location Map For Rattlesnake and Crooked Canyons. 67 36. Upper Rattlesnake Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 69 37. Upper Rattlesnake Canyon Reconnaissance Contours. 69 38. Lower Rattlesnake Canyon Reconnaissance Poles. 70 39. Lower Rattlesnake Canyon Reconnaissance Contours. 70 40. Rattlesnake Canyon Transect #1 Poles. 71 41. Rattlesnake Canyon Transect #2 Poles. 71 42. Rattlesnake Canyon Composite Poles. 72 43. Rattlesnake Canyon Composite Contours. 72 44. Photograph Illustrating Solution Porosity Developed Along A Discontinuity Surface. 75 45. Photograph Illustrating Solution Porosity Developed Along A Carbonate Bedding Plane. 76 46. Composite Poles For Field Study. 77 47. Composite Contour Plot For Study Area. 77 LIST OF TABLES 1. Geologic Uses of the Term "Lineament" and "Linear" Between 1904 and 1973. 5 & 6 2. Lineament Statistics (1:100,000 scale) 39 3. Field Discontinuity Pole Results. 80 LIST OF PLATES 1. Image of Project Area (1:550,000 scale). 2. Regional Lineament Map Overlay (1:550,000 scale). 3. Lineament Map (1:250,000 scale). 4. Regional Gravity Map and Lineaments 5. Regional Aeromagnetic Map and Lineaments 6. Interpretation Overlay IX APPENDIX FIGURES AND TABLES Figure Page A l. Electromagnetic Spectrum Showing Absorption Regions. 105 A2. Flightpath of Landsats 4 and 5. 107 A3. Landsats 4 and 5 16-day Orbit Pattern. 107 A4. General Configuration of Landsats 4 and 5. 109 A5. Landsats 4 and 5 Communications Pattern. 110 A6. Sun Illumination Relationships For Landsats. 115 A7. Solar Elevation Angle For Landsat 4 and 5 As A Function Function Of Latitude. 115 A8. Typical Histogram Of Digital Number Values For Landsat Images. 119 A9. Histograms Illustrating Extreme Contrasts and Radiances. 119 A10. Concept of Linear Contrast Stretch. 120 A ll. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (raw data). 121 A12. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (raw data with histogram). 121 A13. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (linear contrast stretch). 123 A14. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (linear contrast stretch with histogram). 123 A15. Concept of Spatial Frequency Enhancement. 125 A16. Sample High and Low Pass Filters. 125 A17. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (3x3 filter). 127 A18. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (5x5 filter). 127 A19. Lineament Analysis of Contrast Stretched Image. 129 A20. Lineament Analysis of Filtered Image. 131 A 21. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (linear stretch + filtered image). 134 A22. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (false color composite + filter). 135 A23. Image: North Tip of Arrow Canyon Range (false color composite) 135 X Table Page A l. Electromagnetic Spectral Bands. 105 A2. Landsat Periods of Operation. 106 A3. Radiometric Characteristics of Landsats 4 and 5. 106 A4. Thematic Mapper Band Applications. 111 A5. Thematic Mapper Radiometric Sensitivity. 111 A6. Thematic Mapper Parameters. 112 A7. Thematic Mapper Performance Requirements. 112 A8. Sample of Landsat 5 Available Data. 113 1 INTRODUCTION Lineaments have been recognized as surface expressions of geologic structures for nearly eighty years. In the last forty years, hydrogeologists have successfully used lineament mapping on aerial photographs to find major fractures in hard rock which are avenues for groundwater flow. With the advent of Landsat 4 imagery in 1982, the principles established using aerial photography could be carried out at a regional scale, taking full advantage of the better resolution of Thematic Mapper data. The objectives of this study are to 1) create a Thematic Mapper image base which enhances linear features in the Great Basin and 2) test the y- hypothesis that lineaments interpreted from digitally enhanced Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery could represent large scale structures which define groundwater y flow and
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