Fault Terrain Analysis, Farafra Egypt: Investigating the Potential for Polygonal Faulting
Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Major
Geology and Geophysics
Research Advisor
Hogan, John Patrick
Advisor's Department
Geosciences and Geological and Petroleum Engineering
Funding Source
Joint University NSF Grant
Abstract
Regional stress genesis faulting is a recognized and ubiquitous process, whereas polygonal faulting only occurs under uniquely constrained conditions. One of the most distinct characteristics of polygonal faulting is the lack of preferential strike direction. Generally regional stress induced faulting aligns to one or two preferred strike azimuths. The region of interest presents a complicated fault regime. Visual inspection of panchromatic imagery provides no evident preferential strike direction. By digitizing hundreds of these fault traces over a two kilometer square region a quantitative analysis of these fault azimuths has been reached. By comparing this dataset to the regional geologic tectonic setting as well as known regions of polygonal faulting, a case can be built that the Farafra region of the Western Desert of Egypt exhibits characteristics unique to polygonal fault geometry. This conclusion can help interpret the regions tectonic and kinematic history.
Biography
Michael Bouchard will be graduating with his Bachelors of Science in Geology and Geophysics this May. A hard working student he has been recognized by both his department and the Academy of Mines and Metallurgy with academic/leadership awards. Bouchard is passionate about space exploration and is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Mars Rover Design Team. In the fall he will begin a PhD program in Planetary Science at Washington University, St. Louis. He wants to thank Dr. John P. Hogan for all of his support and guidance these last four years.
Research Category
Sciences
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Document Type
Poster
Location
Upper Atrium/Hall
Presentation Date
16 Apr 2014, 9:00 am - 11:45 am
Fault Terrain Analysis, Farafra Egypt: Investigating the Potential for Polygonal Faulting
Upper Atrium/Hall
Regional stress genesis faulting is a recognized and ubiquitous process, whereas polygonal faulting only occurs under uniquely constrained conditions. One of the most distinct characteristics of polygonal faulting is the lack of preferential strike direction. Generally regional stress induced faulting aligns to one or two preferred strike azimuths. The region of interest presents a complicated fault regime. Visual inspection of panchromatic imagery provides no evident preferential strike direction. By digitizing hundreds of these fault traces over a two kilometer square region a quantitative analysis of these fault azimuths has been reached. By comparing this dataset to the regional geologic tectonic setting as well as known regions of polygonal faulting, a case can be built that the Farafra region of the Western Desert of Egypt exhibits characteristics unique to polygonal fault geometry. This conclusion can help interpret the regions tectonic and kinematic history.
