Integrated Remote Sensing and Structural Analysis Studies of Tayyib Al-Ism Area, Northwestern Arabian Shield, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Geological and structural mappings of Tayyib Al-Ism area were carried out using the rocks finite strain data, the Landsat-7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data and the field based observations. To analyze the finite strain in the studied rocks, the Rf /ϕ and Fry methods are applied to feldspar porphyroclasts and mafic grains from nine metavolcano-sedimentary samples (Hegaf Formation), four diorite-gabbros suite samples (Sawawin Complex), two meta-granite samples (Ifal suite) and five Zuhd alkali granite samples. The obtained data indicate traces of high to moderate level of deformation in the meta-granite and metavolcano-sedimentary rocks. The axial ratios along the XZ section range from 1.70 to 4.80 for the Rf/ϕ method and from 1.50 to 4.50 for the Fry method. A sub-vertical trend of short axes in association with sub-horizontal foliation is also observed. These informations allow us to conclude that a finite strain in the deformed granitic rocks is of the same order of magnitude as in the metavolcano-sedimentary rocks. The contacts between the metavolcano-sedimentary and granitic rocks in Tayyib al Ism area were formed during the granitic intrusions along some of the faults under brittle to semi-ductile deformation conditions. These faults have significantly influenced the geometry and style of rifting in the Red Sea during the Neogene. The finite strain was accumulated in the area during the process of deformation, which superimpose the already existed nappe structure. It indicates that the nappe contacts formed during the accumulation of finite strain. In addition to finite strain analysis, band ratio images (3/1, 5/3, 7/5) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) technique have been used, which proved effective in mapping geological and structural features of various rock bodies exposed in the study area.