Neotectonic belts, remote sensing and groundwater potentials in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

The Eastern Cape Province is surrounded by three major neotectonic belts (south, east and north). Each one of these neotectonic belts has its own particularities. This study aims at characterizing and targeting potentially high yield aquifers in the neotectonic zones in the Eastern Cape Province. The methods used in this study include a comprehensive literature review, examination of digital elevation models and extraction of lineaments through remote sensing. The results indicate the following: 1) the eastern neotectonic belt has a higher density of lineaments oriented NW-SE, which makes it the second important neotectonic belt; these lineaments correlate with the normalized difference vegetation index indicative of a good circulation of groundwater; 2) the surface topography is not uniform, high elevations in the east are related to the uplift that took place in the Quaternary, most vector gradients are oriented E-W; 3) in the south the Eastern Cape great lineament oriented E-W is now considered a neotectonic domain because of many seismic epicenters that occur therein, its geomorphologic shape in a graben type form is a favourable structure for groundwater catchment. This project has given fundemental highlights to characterize the major and potential good yield aquifers in the Eastern Cape Province in south Africa. Key words: Neotectonics, groundwater, lineament, remote sensing, hot spring, uplift.