LINEAMENT ANALYSIS OF LANDSAT THEMATIC MAPPER IMAGES, NORTHERN-TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA

Lineament analysis of the edge-enhanced Palm Valley Landsat nw images has defined major E-W, N-S, and a NNW-SSE, NNE-SSW conjugate set of li neaments. Two stages of deformation are proposed to have resulted in t he development of the Palm Valley arcuate anticline. The stage-one def ormation, with the maximum principal stress art oriented in the N-S di rection, generated the major gently plunging, E-W trending anticline. The stage-two deformation, with the maximum principal stress sigma 1 o riented in the E-T lr direction, was responsible for transforming the gently plunging, E-W trending anticline into an arcuate anticline. The western limb was rotated from EMI trending to WSW-ENE and the eastern limb from E-W trending to NW-SE trending. The first-stage shear fract ures on the convex side of the arcuate anticline were transformed into extension fractures in this second stage. The surface and drill loggi ng fractures study of do Rozario and Baird (1987) indicates that surfa ce and subsurface fractures are related. Hence, the fracture system of the Palm Valley arcuate anticline can aid subsurface gas exploration in the area.