Correlation of Tectonics with Geologic Lineaments Interpreted from Remote Sensing Data for Kandiah Valley, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

In the present study, geologic lineaments have been extracted by automatic lineament extraction algorithm of Geomatica software, using digital elevation model (DEM) derived shaded relief images being illuminated with multiple illumination directions. Fieldwork has been carried out for ground truth and in search of any possible evidence of movement along the extracted lineaments in the Kandiah valley in Kohistan district. A regional lineament (possible fault) has been inferred in recent a geological study (e.g. Zeilinger, 2002) that has been found to cross the Kandiah valley. The analysis and ground verification of automatic extracted geologic lineaments revealed that Kandiah valley is in one block without having any regional geological lineament. However, a good correlation was found among the predominant orientations of extracted geologic lineaments and the measured trends of rock features such as rock foliation, drainage pattern and linear ridges. Based on extracted lineaments, no pronounced lineament or fault with the regional extension was identified. This finding is consistent with the field observations as no defenite evidence of fault was found in the study area.