Mapping of Geological Structural Features in Lolgorien, Narok County, Kenya: Using Hillshade Analysis

Despite Lolgorien being one of the most active gold mining areas in Kenya, it is one of the most geologically understudied areas. To the best knowledge of the authors, Lolgorien geological map was last updated in the 1940s. Current technologies such as remote sensing allow new structural features such as faults to be easily identified. In this regard, this study employed remote sensed data to map structural features found in and around Lolgorien Subcounty, Narok, Kenya. This was done to identify any new structural features that might have been missed in the past. Shuttle Radar 152 Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM-DEM) image was downloaded and analysed using hillshade technique. From this analysis, the research identified new structural features which were not included in the current geological map but exist on the ground. One such structural feature (fault) is located approximately at 9866237, 703601 (Universal Transverse Mercator, UTM coordinates) and trends in NW–SE direction. The study also found that most of the lineaments are concentrated in the southern part of Lolgorien area and around or at areas dominated by the banded iron formations. Petrographic analysis of the few samples collected from the area showed presence of gold, pyrite and chalcopyrite mineralisation.

[1]  A. Olatunji,et al.  Re-Os Ages for the Kourki Porphyry Cu-Mo Deposits, North West Niger (West Africa): Geodynamic Implications , 2020 .

[2]  M. Rajasekhar,et al.  Data on comparative studies of lineaments extraction from ASTER DEM, SRTM, and Cartosat for Jilledubanderu River basin, Anantapur district, A.P, India by using remote sensing and GIS , 2018, Data in brief.

[3]  B. Grasemann,et al.  Detection and analysis of morphotectonic features utilizing satellite remote sensing and GIS: An example in SW Jordan , 2016 .

[4]  J. Henckel,et al.  Lake Victoria Goldfields , 2016 .

[5]  Robert Langridge,et al.  Developing sub 5-m LiDAR DEMs for forested sections of the Alpine and Hope faults, South Island, New Zealand: Implications for structural interpretations , 2014 .

[6]  C. Omuombo,et al.  Chapter 1 - General Geology of Kenya , 2013 .

[7]  S. C. Emmanuel Sulphide Microchemistry and Hydrothermal Fluid Evolution in Quartz Veins , Batouri Gold District ( Southeast Cameroon ) , 2013 .

[8]  A. Fon,et al.  Application of Electrical Resistivity and Chargeability Data on a GIS Platform in Delineating Auriferous Structures in a Deeply Weathered Lateritic Terrain, Eastern Cameroon , 2012 .

[9]  Gabrielsen,et al.  Tectonic lineaments of Norway , 2012 .

[10]  Thomas J. Mack,et al.  Lineament analysis of mineral areas of interest in Afghanistan , 2012 .

[11]  Abdullah H. Awdal,et al.  Automatic Mapping of Lineaments Using Shaded Relief Images Derived from Digital Elevation Model (DEM) in Erbil-Kurdistan, northeast Iraq , 2012 .

[12]  K. Koike,et al.  Auto-detection and integration of tectonically significant lineaments from SRTM DEM and remotely-sensed geophysical data , 2011 .

[13]  Katsuaki Koike,et al.  Morphotectonics inferred from the analysis of topographic lineaments auto-detected from DEMs: Application and validation for the Sinai Peninsula, Egypt , 2011 .

[14]  Helmi Zulhaidi Mohd Shafri,et al.  Lineament mapping and its application in landslide hazard assessment: a review , 2010 .

[15]  J. Akhir,et al.  Automatic mapping of lineaments using shaded relief images derived from digital elevation model (DEMs) in the Maran - Sungi Lembing area, Malaysia , 2010 .

[16]  Olaf Zielke,et al.  Tectonic geomorphology of the San Andreas Fault zone from high resolution topography: an example from the Cholame segment , 2009 .

[17]  L. Rowan,et al.  Mapping Phyllic and Argillic-Altered Rocks in Southeastern Afghanistan using Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Data , 2007 .

[18]  L. Q. Hung,et al.  Lineament extraction and analysis, comparison of LANDSAT ETM and ASTER imagery. Case study: Suoimuoi tropical karst catchment, Vietnam , 2005, SPIE Remote Sensing.

[19]  Gyozo Jordan,et al.  Application of wavelet analysis to the study of spatial pattern of morphotectonic lineaments in digital terrain models. A case study , 2005 .

[20]  Gordon R. J. Cooper,et al.  Feature detection using sun shading , 2003 .

[21]  N. Lucas,et al.  Landsat TM analysis of fracture patterns: a case study from the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile , 2003 .

[22]  D. Ichang'i Lithostratigraphic setting of the mineralisation in the Migori segment of the Nyanza greenstone belt, Kenya. , 1993 .