Remote Sensing Study of Neotectonics of Katwaz Region in Balochistan-Pakistan

Abstract

This investigation deals with the delineation of neotectonics and its connection to the regional surfacedeformation in the Katwaz region (KR) located in the north of Quetta along the Pakistan-Afghan border. It consists ofrocks dominated by silicates and carbonates, were uplifted due to regional tectonics. In this study, SRTM DEM (90mspatial resolution) based Surface Dynamics (SDMs) of KR is analyzed to investigate the Isobase level (IBL), Relativerelief (RR), Topographic surface roughness (TSR) and topographic Slope (TS) map to constrain the active surfacedeformation due to regional neotectonics. It gives complete information regarding the lithology based erosional marginsand demarcation of neotectonic scarps and established the relationship between Strahler order streams and neotectonicsettings in an actively deformed KR. This study aims to delineate margins for geomorphological variations and to findthe effects of neotectonics. Another purpose is to examine the geomorphic parameters and to map active tectonicsdevelopment due to transform sinistral movement of the Chaman Fault system (CFS) in the context of the ongoingcollision of India-Eurasia. The resultant and generated surface dynamic maps (SDMs) were due to neotectonicdevelopments, progressions and orientations along with CFS and Suleman fold, and thrust belts (SFTBs). The resultsobtained revealed that IBL values are higher in the NNE, SSW, and central parts along with the CFS, and partially in theNW corner of the KR due to uplifted SFTBs. The active tectonic nature of SFTBs and TSR values are lower in the centraland northern parts of KR. The TSR values are higher along SFTBs and CFS due to greater vertical dissection betweenthese two active faults system. The DEM based SDMs are time-efficient and cost-effective for easy identification anddelineation of neo-tectonically active zones using remote sensing and GIS techniques.