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Acta Geophysica

, Volume 64, Issue 4, pp 978–1003 | Cite as

Structural Investigations of Afghanistan Deduced from Remote Sensing and Potential Field Data

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Abstract

This study integrates potential gravity and magnetic field data with remotely sensed images and geological data in an effort to understand the subsurface major geological structures in Afghanistan. Integrated analysis of Landsat SRTM data was applied for extraction of geological lineaments. The potential field data were analyzed using gradient interpretation techniques, such as analytic signal (AS), tilt derivative (TDR), horizontal gradient of the tilt derivative (HG-TDR), Euler Deconvolution (ED) and power spectrum methods, and results were correlated with known geological structures.

The analysis of remote sensing data and potential field data reveals the regional geological structural characteristics of Afghanistan. The power spectrum analysis of magnetic and gravity data suggests shallow basement rocks at around 1 to 1.5 km depth. The results of TDR of potential field data are in agreement with the location of the major regional fault structures and also the location of the basins and swells, except in the Helmand region (SW Afghanistan) where many high potential field anomalies are observed and attributed to batholiths and near-surface volcanic rocks intrusions.

A high-resolution airborne geophysical survey in the data sparse region of eastern Afghanistan is recommended in order to have a complete image of the potential field anomalies.

Key words

gravity magnetic remote sensing structure Afghanistan 
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Copyright information

© Saibi et al. 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Earth Resources EngineeringKyushu University, Faculty of EngineeringFukuokaJapan
  2. 2.Dept. of GeologyUnited Arab Emirates UniversityAl-AinUnited Arab Emirates
  3. 3.Department of Geology and GeophysicsKing Saud UniversityRiyadhSaudi Arabia

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