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8 Lineament analysis
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availability of data in different spectral bands and receptivity. Even lineaments of
inaccessible terrains can be mapped and analyzed using remotely sensed data. Dykes
and ridges also appear as linear features on image but can be segregated from other
linear features because of the positive relief (Ganesh Raj, 1994). On a satellite image,
the lineaments can be easily identified by visual interpretation using tone, texture,
pattern and association (Gupta, 2003). It has been suggested that south India has
been subjected to certain epeirogenic uplifts since the Jurassic (Vaidyanadhan,
1962). Lineaments are the main features that control the occurrence of groundwater
in the study area. Secondary porosity is imparted by joints and fractures in the areas
of higher lineament density. The lineaments of the study area have been traced from
the satellite data of IRS 1C and ID of ‐LISS III imagery plus PAN. A number of mega‐
and micro‐lineaments are identified from the satellite imagery, further checked by
field studies, and demarcated at a 1:50,000 map scale (Fig. 5.4)
River Lakshmantirtha is all along following a fracture zone in the study area.
Lakshmantirtha River flows in NE‐SW direction and the nature of the river is this
sector clearly indicates the presence of NE‐SW lineaments. River takes a sharp turn
near kirijaji farm (Plate 5.8). The sharp bend of the river is evidence of these
fractures.
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Plate 5.5: Lakshmantirtha River taking a sharp westerly turn near Kirijai village
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Figure 5.4: Lineament map of the study area
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5.8.1 Rose Diagram
In earth sciences, circular diagrams and circular statistics are mostly used for
orientation distributions (Graham Borradaile, 2003). For representing the orientation
distribution of the lineaments a rose diagram has been constructed with the help of
Rozeta software(V.2), (Fig. 5.5 ). A Rose Diagram is used to display the linear features
for angles ranging from 1 through 180 degrees simultaneously (Davis, 1986).
The total lineament length of the study area is around 354 km. Lineaments
lengths varied from around 0.14 to 3.78 km, with an average of 1.0 km. Lineaments
were grouped according to their orientation in 18 classes, each one 10° wide. A
frequency rose diagram of lineaments is plotted, from which major lineament
orientations are revealed. The frequency of orientation of the lineaments is shown in
Table 5.2.
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The three lineament sets (NE–SW, NW–SE and latitudinal) exist all over the
Precambrian region in India although the actual orientation with respect to the
azimuth might differ from place to place by a few degrees (Vaidyanadhan et al.,
1971). As seen in the rose diagram (Fig. 5.5) majority of the lineaments of the study
area are trending towards NW–SE direction, which is parallel to the faulting of west
cost of India indicating these lineaments are syngenetic and sympathetic (Ganesh
Raj, 1994)
Figure 5.5: Rose Diagram of Lineament of the study area
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Figure 5.6: Screen shot of frequency distribution of lineaments in Rozeta software (v.2)
5.8.2 Lineament density map
The lineaments present in the study area have varying dimensions. Based on
the concentration and length of lineaments, a lineament density map was prepared.
Lineament delineated using satellite images were converted into zones of different
lineament densities, viz. high, moderate, low to nil using spatial density analysis in
GIS domain (Fig. 5.7).
The lineament‐density map reveals the variations in the potential for
obtaining groundwater in the basin. According to Stephen Mabee et al., (1994), from
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a study of regional‐scale lineament analysis for fractured bedrock aquifers,
concluded that wells located on or near fracture‐correlated lineaments are generally
more transmissive. High porosity and hydraulic conductivity zones are associated
with lineaments (Kukillaya et al., 1999; Subba Rao and Prathap Reddy 1999;
Harinarayana et al., 2000; Subba Rao et al., 2001). Mabee et al., (1994) have found
that the normalised transmissivity near the lineaments is high. A good relationship
exists between higher fracture densities and higher well yields (Magowe and Carr,
1999). Generally, it is expected that the thickness of weathered/fractured rocks is
greater along the lineaments hence, the lineaments are assumed to have a control
on the availability of groundwater.
Although lineaments have been identified throughout the area, from the
groundwater prospecting point of view the lineaments in the pediplain or valley fill
are of importance. Those across the denudational hills (DH), residual hills (RH), in the
high‐drainage density and high‐slope area or in the area occupied by clay zones are
of less significance as there could be high runoff along them and these may act only
as conduit to transmit infiltrated rain water.
5.9 DIGITAL ELEVATION MODELING (DEM)
The availability of digital elevation models (DEMs) is critical for performing
geometric and radiometric corrections for terrain on remotely sensed imagery, and
allows the generation of contour lines and terrain models, thus providing another
source of information for analysis. A digital elevation model (DEM) is a well known
means of representing any internal or superficial relief of the Earth at any scale
where elevation differences yield relevant geological information. Application of
DEM is very useful in deciphering geomorphic and structural features, especially
those of large‐scale edifices and deposits which cannot be readily studied or
identified in the field (e.g., Cappadoccia, Turkey: Froger et al., 1998; Socompa, Chile:
Wadge et al., 1995; Etna, Italy: Favalli et al., 1999). In the present study, an attempt
has been made to create DEM for the study area by incorporating the following input
data.
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Figure 5.7: Lineament density map of the study area
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