Fractal Analysis of Lineaments in Equatorial Africa: Insights on Lithospheric Structure

Collin Nkono, Olivier Féménias, Annick Lesne, Jean-Claude Mercier, Daniel Demaiffe

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Isotopic Geochemistry and Chemical Geodynamics Laboratory, DSTE (CP 160/02) Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Bruxelles, Belgique.

DOI: 10.4236/ojg.2013.33019                

Abstract

In this paper, the complexity in the spatial distribution of the lineaments was investigated from on remote sensing topographic (SRTM DEM) and multispectral (Landsat) data. Lineaments in equatorial Africa were chosen to apply the fractal analysis methodology. The good correlations of the obtained data with some geophysical data from the same area allow that the complexity in the spatial distribution of the lineaments can give qualitative information on the interior of the earth (or on other planets). This method can provide a bridge between classical geology and geophysics, and particularly powerful for studying large and inaccessible regions.

Keywords

Lineament; Fractal Analysis; SRTM; Equatorial Africa

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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