Abstract
The study area is located in the Chiang Mai, Tak, and Mae Hong Son provinces of northern Thailand. Digitally enhanced Landsat TM5 and SPOT images and data on economic minerals deposits were used in the investigation. High-pass filtering and principal component analyses were determined to be the most appropriate enhancement methods. Space-borne image interpretation indicates two major faults: the north-trending Mae Hong Son and the northwest-trending Mae Ping. Both large-scale faults are inferred to be closely related to substantial, nearly parallel folds and thrusts. The four main sets of lineaments observed (north-south, northeast-southwest, northwest-southeast, and east-west) are considered to have an essential role in the occurrences of various mineral deposits. Mineral exploration has emphasized areas where several sets of lineaments cross-cut each other, since the possibility of finding concealed ore bodies or potential target areas is considered quite high. Some sets of lineaments probably control post-Triassic granitoid emplacements both directly and indirectly. Three major granitoid series are recognized in the study area: the Mae Lama (ca. 70 Ma), the Tae Song Yang (ca. 45 Ma), and the Mae Sariang (205–210 Ma) Granites. These peraluminous, S-type granites are closely related to tin, tungsten, and fluorite deposits. Fluorite, barite, manganese, and antimony deposits may be related to the northtrending lineaments. Stibnite deposits may be related to the northeast-trending lineaments. The tin/tungsten deposits are likely related to the east- and northwest-trending lineaments. Ovoid-shaped lineaments, found only at a few locations, are interpreted to indicate the granitoid emplacement and are thought to be important in the generation of concealed mineral deposits. We conclude that the existence of such lineaments is related to the post-Triassic abutment and collision of the Shan-Thai, Indochina, and Western Burma microcontinental blocks.
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