REMOTE SENSING FOR

GEOLOGY

Prepared by
Sutikno Prof. Dr.

WHAT IS REMOTE SENSING?

Remote sensing is:
Science and art of obtaining information
of object, area, of phenomenon through
analysis of data acquired by a device
without contact of the object, area or
phenomenon under investigation.

WHAT IS REMOTE SENSING FOR GEOLOGY

AND WHAT TYPE OF REMOTE SENSING
IMAGES ARE USUALLY USED
REMOTE SENSING FOR GEOLOGY:
APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING FOR OBTAINING
GEOLOGICAL INFORMATION OR DATA: stratigraphy,
lithology and geologic structure.
REMOTE SENSING IMAGE FOR GEOLOGICAL
INVESTIGATION:

AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS
LANDSAT
SPOT
RADAR
THERMAL INFRA RED

REMOTE SENSING
REMOTE SENSING

GEOLOGY

REMOTE SENSING
FOR GEOLOGY

GEOLOGIC
RESOURCES

GEOLOGIC
HAZARD

MINERAL & ROCKS

MASS MOVEMENT

WATER

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

ENERGY

EARTHQUAKE

LANDFORMS

FLOOD

WHAT KINDS INFORMATION CAN BE

OBTAINED FROM RS IMAGES
1. Topographic pattern
2. Drainage pattern
3. Landform units
4. Lithogical/rocks units
5. Geological structures
6. Mineral deposits location
7. Susceptible area for erosion, mass-

movement, earthquake, volcanic.

WHAT IS THE AIM AND THE STATUS OF THE

GEOLOGICAL REMOTE SENSING IMAGE
INTERPRETATION
The aim is to obtain lithologic,

stratigraphy and geological structure

The status is not as an alternative of
field geology; fieldwork always carried
out to check the result of the image
interpretation; the results of the image
interpretation are supposed similar
with data from other sources.

WHAT IS THE CONTENT OF THE PRELIMINARY

GEOLOGICAL MAP RESULTING FROM RS IMAGE
INTERPRETATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Lithological units: may composed of single rock or

group of rocks
Geologic structures indicators: dip slope, bedding
plane
Continue or discontinue of the bed layers
Indicators of fault and unconformity
Landform units
Drainage pattern, can be used to identify the
lithology and structure
Control point, important location, ground control

ARE THERE ANY IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS

FOR INTERPRETATION PURPOSES
1. Tone
2. Texture
3. Pattern
4. Shape/form
5. Site
6. Association
7. Shadow

HOW TO IDENTIFY AND INTERPRETATION

OF GEOLOGICAL DATA FROM RS IMAGES
1.

Using element for geological interpretation:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.

2.

Outcrop features and distribution

Structure in detail
Landform
Drainage pattern
Vegetation
Cultural features

Using factors for geological features identification:

a.
b.
c.

Form; for lithology and structure identification

Asymmetrical slope: to determine the dip slope of the
beds
Drainage: to recognize the density and
pattern.Drainage density is associate to rock
resistance and permeability. Drainage pattern is
important for lithological and structural interpretation.

CHARACTERISTICS OF DRAINAGE SYSTEM

IN GEOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Integration
Density or spaciation
Homogeneity
Orientation and control
Pattern

HOW TO INTERPRETATE THE LITHOLOGY

1.

Lithological units are easily to identify from

remote sensing image (especially aerial
photograph):
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

f.

Sandstone
Shale stone
Limestone
A certain igneous and metamorphic rocks
Unconsolidated material, such as: sand, gravel,
clay
Intercalation resistance and non resistance rocks

2. Sedimentary rocks can be identify and

classified based on:

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.

Texture
Mineral composition
Color
Porosity
Permeability
Drainage density
Drainage pattern (fig.1)

Three types of
sedimentary rocks

limestone

Arenaceous
limestone

Clay limestone
Water soluble

Subsurface drainage

Sinkhole
Calcareous
sandstone
Internal drainage

External drainage

Closed spaced
pattern

Wide spaced
pattern

sandstone

Argillaceous sandstone

Fig. Image/photo
characteristic of
sedimentary rocks

Calcareous shale,
marl

Arenaceous shale

shale

CARBONATE
Resistant/
nonresistant,
soluble, karstification,
internal and external
drainage,jointing; light to
medium photo tone

Intermediate
lithologies with
mixed
characteristics

Resistant,
porous,
permeable
depend on cement and
matrix, internal drainage,
low density; frequent joint
system; light or light to
medium photo tone

COARSE GRAINED CLASTICS

Low
resistant
insoluble
Impervious, external
drainage, high density,
dark to medium photo
tone

FINE GRAINED CLASTICS

IDENTIFICATION OF SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

FROM IMAGE/AERIAL PHOTOGRAPH
Coarse clastic
Fine clastic:
sediment:
sediment:clay,
breccia,conglomerate shale, siltstone
sandstone

Carbonate:
limestone and
dolomite, marls

Resistant, depend on
cementation
Form: cuesta, hogbag,
mesa
As key horizon for
structural analysis
Joint system well develop

Low permeability
and non resistant
In humid: low hill
with rounded topo.
Impervious, external
drainage
Joint system not
develop

In arid resistant, in
humid soluble
Karst topography

Drainage: low-medium
density
Drainage pattern:
dendritic, trellis
Tone: light to medium

Drainage: high
density
Dendritic drainage
pattern
Gray to dark tone

Sink hole and doline

dominant
Joint frequent,
longitudinal belt of dark
tone/colour
Low drainage density
Partly: underground
Light to dark photo tone

IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF
IGNEOUS ROCKS
1.

Based on mineral composition:

2.

Extrusive rocks:

3.

Acidic: light photo tone

Intermediate: light to medium photo tone
Basic: dark to dark photo tone
Associate with volcanic landform
Porosity and permeability: high
External drainage
Basic lava: shield volcano, joint are predominat
Acidic lava: bocca, spatter cone, lava blister
Intermediate lava: strato volcano

Intrusive rocks:

Homogen
Topography humocky (humid) and sharp (arid)
Joint: frequent
Drainage pattern with low density.

IMAGE CHARACTERISTICS OF
METAMORPHIC ROCK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Massive topography, stratigraphy not clearly appear

Permeability is low; drainage density high to medium;
drainage pattern: dendritic, trellis or parallel.
Quartzite: resistant, massive topography, low permeability,
dendritic, trellis; gray photo tone
Marble: in arid and semi arid resistant, in humid similar to
limestone
Slates: low resistant, high drainage density, dendritic; dark to
medium gray
Gneiss: resistant, massive topography, low
permeability,dendritic, trellis; gray photo tone

GEOLOGIC STRUCTURE IMAGE

INTERPRETATION
1.

FLAT-LAYING BEDS:

2.

Contrasting tone of different sedimentary rocks

Break of slope along the contour
Dendritic drainage pattern

DIPPING BEDS (FOLDS)

Topographic surfaces coincide with bedding surface

Asymetrical slope can be used to determine the
direction of the dip
Pattern of outcrop on valley can be used to determine
the direction of the dip
Major stream usually flow parallel to the strike of the
stratified beds.

3. JOINTS

4.

Linear features/lineaments, thin rather than short, in regular

direction
Intersecting joint approximately at right angles (vertically, dipping)
give a blocky pattern of the topography.
In fine grained clastic rocks joint are generally more closely
spaced

FAULTS

Linear features/lineament
Triangle facet
Alignment of vegetation, straight of river/stream
segment, alignment of lakes, ponds and springs
Changes of tone, drainage and erosional features on
opposite of linear features
Alignment of topography.

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