Lineament interpretation :
A lineament can be defined as a linear feature visible
on the Earth's surface or seen on a satellite image. The
lineaments may be surface expressions of geological
structures such as faults,bedrock boundaries, bedrock
foliation,cruch zones,etc. which are of great importance
for the geologist. The mapped lineaments from the
three test areas were analysed using LESA sofware (
Fig.9-A,B,C) TM, Spot-based lineament interpretation
led to the definition of the Palmyrides chains trending
fault-zone,which includes the prominent faults (
Fig.10-lineament interpretation resulting from the
integrading of Spot and TM data). The TM image and
aireal photos do show a prominent valley running
parallel to the bedrock foliation. There are no structures
indicative of strike-slip motion .
RESULTS :
Using of different Remote Sensing techniques led to the
folowing results : within the zone of the intraplatform
trough of the folded region of the palmyrian ridges,
three tectonic subzones can be distinguished
morphologically from South to North. The first tectonic
subzone includes in the South of the following major
anticlinal linear folds : the Ad-Dawwara coffer-shaped
anticline, the Arak coffer-shaped anticline and the Ad-
Dbayyat arch-like anticline. The anticlinal folds of this
subzone are, as a rule, 20 to 25 km long and have an
asymmetric box-,coffer-,or arch-like structure ( Fig.11)
.Along the Southern rim of the subzone there passes a
big flexure which from now on we shall call the Arak
flexure. The beds in this flexure have a Southward dip
reaching 70 degrees. Continuing in the Western
direction, in the area of the town of Tudmor, the
flexure passes into a fault. In the North the subzone is
limited by the As-Satih system of faults. Within the
subzone there is only one synclinal fold-the J.Quleilat,
which is bigger than the anticlinal folds of the same
subzone. Its long axis extends for 27-28 km. The
second tectonic subzone is characterized by the series
of linear box-shaped anticlinal folds of the first order,
striking in a North-Eastern direction . It includes (from
South-WestMazar box anticline, The compound As-
Safra coffer anticline, As-Satih box anticline and
Thaniyyet As-Satih system of faults which, continuing,
in the South-Western direction, passes into the Hayyan
system of faults. Its Northern border is the Matnet
system of faults. The Ad-Daww basin is situated in the
central part of this subzone. Its description is given
under "Basins of the Neogen-Quaternary ". The
anticlines have linear forms ( generally they are 5 to 10
km long and not more than 1.5 to 2 km wide, more
rarely they are 3.5 to 4 km wide), an asymmetrical box-
.Coffer-or arch-like structure, and are characterized by
considerable development of faults of a normal or
thrust nature, and the existence of numerous small
fractures feathering out from the major faults. All
anticlines are located in echelon, being separated from
183
each other by large longitudinal faults with a
displacement amplitude of 600 to 800 m. The
displacement planes of the faults are inclined at an
angle of 75 to 85 degrees to the South-East in the
Southern limbs of the anticlinal folds and to the North-
West in the Northern ones. The flat arches of the folds
of this subzone are generally inclined at an angle of 5
to 10 degrees to the North-West and their Sothern
limbs are cut off by faults. Within the big anticlinal
folds of the first order it is possible to define smaller
anticlines and synclines of the second and third order,
which complicate the main folds. The characteristic
morphological features of the folds of the second and
third order are their asymmetricity, box structure and
the existence of numerous small longitudinal faults.
The third tectonic subzone : it includes major structures
situated North of the Matnet system of faults. À limited
number of faults is observed in this subzone. They are
associated with anticlinal folds. The amplitudes of the
fault are considerably smaller than in the first tectonic
subzone and do not exceed 100 m. Faults are not
observed in the synclines, as a rule. The subzone under
consideration has numerous flexure-like bends of the
beds of 40 to 50 degrees, confined to the limbs of the
anticlinal folds. Some of these flexures pass into fault
dislocations .
Conclusion :
Data from the TM-instrument onboard the Landsat-5
satellite and HRV-instrument onboard the SPOT-3
satellite has proved very useful for detailed
interpretation of geologic and tectonic structures. For
structures with a length of 1 km or more, TM and
SPOT imagery provides nearly as much information as
high-altitude aerial photographs.Compared with MSS-
data, the TM and SPOT-data gives more information
about structures less than 5 km in length. Digital image
processing of TM and SPOT data gives more
information than the use of standard black-and-white
photography, especially in areas with extensive soil
cover. Image processing consists of linear stretching of
individual TM-channels and generation of color
composites. Four combinations of TM-channels were
found to be useful, and each of them contains channel
4. These combinations are:2/3/4,1/4/7,and 4/5/7. The
new shortwave infrared (SWIR)bands of the TM on
Landsat 5 and the High Resolution Visible(HRV) of
Spot "xs"and "Panchromatic", enable one to detect and
discriminate lineaments which commonly occur in the
Palmyrides region in the central part of Syria . Spectral
features, evidenced by bands or changes in slope of
spectral curves, appear as a result of either electronic or
vibrational processes. The spectral reflectance of
lineaments in visible(VIS)and near infrared(NIR)is
influenced mainly by the wings of charge transfer
bands in the ultraviolet, and electronic transitions at
longer wavelength, which are caused by transition
elements.The short-wave infrared region between 1.1
and 2,5 Mm,is a range of interest, which provides more
International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXI, Part B7. Vienna 1996
