Interpretation of gravity anomaly to delineate thrust faults locations at the northeastern part of India and its adjacent areas using source edge detection technique, tilt derivative and Cos(θ) analysis

Abstract

The Northeast India and its adjacent areas converge among the three different plates, viz. Eurasia, India and Sunda plates. The tectonic interaction of Northeast India and underlying dynamics of the Himalayas as well as the Indo-Burma Ranges might cause the Assam Syntaxis. The area of study is located between latitude 23°–28°N and longitude 88°–96°E and situated in one of the most seismically active tectonic provinces in the world with seismic zone-V. This area had demonstrated several thrust faults activities and tectonic evident accomplishments during the recent past. The complicated geotectonic setups inspirits various smaller magnitude earthquakes, and the current seismicity shows seismic activities are still enduring in the Shillong Plateau, Arakan-Yoma fold belt, Bengal Basin, Naga Hills, Mikir Hills, Upper–Lower Brahmaputra Valley and Mismi Hills of Himalayan foothills. It is imperative to obtain wide-ranging learning tectonic configuration, thrust faults delineation for improved geoscientific study. Parts of the areas are extremely unreachable, and very limited thrust faults were marked by studying GIS map received from the various agencies and field geological study. During the past studies, most of the prominent lineaments/thrusts are marked; however, many active and hidden thrust faults are still unidentified. Seismic data can provide better information about the thrust faults locations, but due to small number of seismic data, the information is not adequate. In this paper, attempt has been made to study and reinterpret the available ground gravity data of northeastern parts of India for understanding thrust fault locations using various applications of gravity derivatives like analytical signal, horizontal gravity gradient, tilt derivative, horizontal tilt angle derivative and Cos(θ) analysis. Source edge detection technique has also been premeditated to categorize thrust fault locations. It is understandable that the low gravity is observed at Assam Valley which contributed sediment accumulations and higher gravity anomaly observed at Shillong Plateau and Bengal Basin containing denser formations. Bouguer gravity data is used after isostatic correction assuming Airy’s isostasy root depth model and first-order trend removal using least square technique. The derived thrust fault locations from the present study are superimposed with the existing thrust-fault locations for correlation. Some additional thrust faults are narrated which are not previously mapped. It is also suggested that Brahmaputra Thrust, Dauki Fault, Naga Thrust, Disang Thrust and Kopili Fault have key responsibility for high seismicity and tectonic movement causing upliftment and depression that encouraged some anticlockwise rotation in the area.