Interim Report of the West-Central New York Lineament Consortium

Dr. Robert Jacobi University at Buffalo Joseph P. Fagan, Jr.

Centennial Geoscience, Inc.

Acknowledgements

• This work was contracted for, and sponsored by, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

• Pennsylvania aeromagnetic data courtesy of AGI.

Objectives

• Describe the thinking behind the West Central New York Lineament Consortium • Review work to date and future plans • Discuss how to participate

Background

• Present day topography reveals many clues about the subsurface geology.

• Work at SUNY has demonstrated the concept of fracture intensification domains, or FIDs.

• How do these FIDs compare information on topographic maps?

with

#8

. ENE-STRIKING FID

Background

• Aeromagnetic data provide information about faulting patterns in the basement.

• As basement is brittle, lithologic contacts also can become the loci for fracturing.

• Reactivated basement faults can propagate fractures upwards through the sedimentary column.

SENECA LAKE TRANSECT ENE VALOIS HECTOR EW ENE EW FRACTURES LINEAMENTS 2.5

1.5

0.5

0 15 SOIL GAS 10 5 0 SOUTH 32 28 24 20 16 12 8 4 0 NORTH U B

Rock Fracture Group

2 km

“Sandwiching” the fractures

• By combining the two methods—top down and bottom up—can we find areas of coincidental fracturing and/or faulting?

• If so, could these two sets be part of one continuous system that extends up from the basement and all the way to surface?

Study area

• Study area covers an area of western New York about 5,200 square miles • 98 7-1/2’ quadrangles in study area • Part of, or all of, thirteen counties within area

Map of study area

Data sets used in study

• High-resolution aeromagnetic data set flown by Geologic Survey of Canada in 1999 • Newest version of digital elevation models (DEM) from USGS—data points every ten meters on orthogonal grid • Earthsat 1997 study

Outline of work

• DEM Compilation and Mapping • Aeromagnetic/gravity processing • Geophysical and Remote Sensing Integration • Final integration and analysis

DEM Compilation

• 98 7-1/2’ quads were gridded and mapped.

• These grids were individually analyzed, and also merged into 15’ x 15’ quadrangles to permit easier analysis.

• Curvature analyses were run to identify possible FIDs.

Curvature?

• Curvature is a 2-D property that describes how bent a curve is at a particular point.

• Curvature depends on the scale that it is examined at.

• Areas of high curvature (topographically) occur on slope breaks such as hillsides and stream edges.

Outline of work

• DEM Compilation and Mapping • Aeromagnetic/gravity processing • Geophysical and Remote Sensing Integration • Final integration and analysis

Aeromagnetic/gravity work

• Reprocess and interpret existing high resolution aeromagnetic data • Reprocess and interpret existing gravity data • Integrate to complete structural interpretation

Outline of work

• DEM Compilation and Mapping • Aeromagnetic/gravity processing • Geophysical and Remote Sensing Integration • Final integration and analysis

Geophysical / Remote Sensing Integration

• Merge DEM attributes with Earthsat’s Landsat lineaments.

• Compare these with structural interpretation from previous step to determine a subset of lineaments that may be related to basement structures.

Lineaments from EarthSat, 1997 50 mi 50 km -

Lineaments from EarthSat, 1997 50 mi 50 km -

Outline of work

• DEM Compilation and Mapping • Aeromagnetic/gravity processing • Geophysical and Remote Sensing Integration • Final integration and analysis

Final Analysis

• Determine which major lineaments are most likely to be related to basement faulting.

• Create integrated map showing areas of faulting/fracturing at both basement and surface levels.

Participating in the consortium

• Anyone may participate—private industry, government organization, or university.

• Consortium members will receive: DEM data and derivatives, aeromagnetic data w/ interpretation, gravity data, integrated maps showing areas of faulting/fracturing at both basement and surface levels, and summary reports.

Participating in the consortium

• Purchase price to participate: $5,000 for the entire area.

• Anticipated completion date: Spring, 2005.