To assist the determination of which of these tonal
features (linears) might also in fact be faults other re-
mote sensing data was employed. Other products used in this
investigation included SLAR imagery, Figure 3, and high
altitude aerial photography. Figure 4 shows a comparison
of the Landsat, SLAR, and Hi-altitude photo lineaments.
The area within the square is some 20 x 20 miles on a
side and all the lineaments have been transferred to a
Landsat scene which was used as a base. Appropriate geo-
logic maps were used and indicates that many linears were
in fact fault traces or extensions of mapped faults.
In areas of sedimentary deposition on older basement
structures which have been reactivated in the past,
structural trends may be reflected in the overlying sedi-
ments as drainage patterns or subtle linears. Some of the
features identified in Figures 1 and 2 may have such an
origin. While the exact mechanism responsible for this
surface expression is obscure, lineament mapping from
satellite imagery appears to be applicable to identifying
major structural trends. Since these trends appear to be
associated with the basement underlying thick sedimentary
deposits, such lineament analysis provided a rapid and in-
expensive method for aiding the site evaluation.
The ultimate goal in our remote sensing studies of
geologic features for nuclear power plant siting is the
development of a chronology of deformation. Dominant
linear trends which persist through geologic history can
have several periods of movement associated with them.
The sense of movement will vary, depending on the orien-
tation of the stresses at any particular time. Analysis
of the sequence of movement and identification and orien-
tation of the youngest controlling lineament identified
as a fault takes on added significance in light of the
present day stress field and is important to site safety
considerations.