Methods and applications of fracture trace analysis in the quantification of structural geology

Abstract

SUMMARYNaturally occurring linear features recognisable on aerial photographs may be related to bedrock tectonics. The identification and analysis of such linear elements, “megajoints”, reveals much information about the style and dimensions of subsurface geologic structures. Various terminologies, as applicable to air photo linears, are brought together and analysis is carried out in four test applications of Permyakov's original methods, the calculation of three-dimensional parameters from two-dimensional data. Some comparison is made with other techniques. Much of this linear vector analysis is carried out manually but possibilities exist for mechanical analysis and synthesis using certain up-to-date techniques. The methods described are applicable to many fields of academic and practical geology at or above the reconnaissance level.