Orientation and Frequency Analysis of Topographic Lineaments in the Miringa Volcanic Zone of the Biu Plateau Region, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of present study is to spatially analyze the topographic lineaments of tectonic origin in the Miringa Volcanic Zone located in the northwestern part of the Biu Plateau. To achieve such aim, SRTM of spatial resolution 12.5 m was utilized. The lineaments were automatically extracted by using PCI GEOMARTICA software version 10. This was followed by field work for ground thruting and to establish field relationships. ArcGis 10.5 software version was used for spatial analysis of lineaments while Rockworks version 16 was used in creating the Rossace used in lineament trend analysis and other related statistical variables associated with the lineaments of the study area. 2036 linear structures were identified in the area with a total length of 30,193.85 m. The maximum length of lineament recorded in the study area is 150 m while the minimum is 3.68 m. Field work revealed that most of the lineaments in the area developed from the weathering of contacts between successive volcanic beds in areas overlaid by the highly dissected plateaus, escarpment slopes and denudation hills. Trend analysis of lineaments of the study area indicates that the direction of lineaments tend to lie in the North-east to southwest direction (Azimuth 45°-225°) which has same direction with major drainage system and most of the volcanoes of the area. This signifies the presence of a major fissure trending in the north-east to south-west direction as the primary tectonic structure of the area. Subsequent exogenic processes exploited this structure leading to the formation of other micro-lineaments that trend along the same direction.