Potential of ALOS-2 PALSAR-2 StripMap data for lithofacies identification and geological lineament mapping in vegetated fold-thrust belt of Nagaland, India

In this study statics-based textural analysis GLCM (Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix) of high resolution L band SAR data from ALOS-2 of JAXA has been used to discriminate between lithological facies of the fold-thrust belt of Nagaland, India. Sandstones, shales, siltstones and clays have been separated in the analysis. Importantly, the lithological facies with second-order compositional variance have been distinguished from each other. The study of 27 lithological pairs indicates a Transformed Divergence index greater than 1.7 except one pair which shows an index of 1.6. The average GLCM texture values of different stratigraphic units in VV and VH polarization shows appreciable differences. Coefficient of variation of the texture samples from each descriptor show uniform distribution around their mean. The mean has thus been used as a lithological index in this study. Further, the medium scaled geological lineaments have been extracted and mapped at 1: 25,000 scale. The Compass Edge Detector on the first Principal Component of full polarized ALOS-2 scene has been used for this purpose. Fracture network, outcrop length, density, and orientation have also been analyzed. The study is successful in rock characterization within vegetation-covered landscape, using L band SAR remote sensing. It may provide an important tool in geological mapping in inaccessible terrains with limited ground data control. The fracture map and its study can provide some useful insights about reservoir characterization and reduce exploration risk in this terrain that has a proven petroleum system.

Automated summary

In this study, statics-based textural analysis using GLCM (Grey Level Co-occurrence Matrix) was applied to high resolution L band SAR data from ALOS-2 of JAXA to discriminate between lithological facies of the fold-thrust belt of Nagaland, India. The study successfully distinguished sandstones, shales, siltstones and clays, and extracted medium-scaled geological lineaments. The research is significant for geological exploration and mapping in vegetation-covered landscapes.