Abstract
Lineaments in the southeastern Jordan plateau are mapped using gravity data and field studies in order to understand the tectonic origin of these lineaments, especially in relation to the Dead Sea transform (DST) and the Red Sea opening. Four sets trending E-W, NW-SE, NE-SW, and N-S are identified in gravity data. Field studies generally reveal similar orientations. Field and gravity studies indicate that most of the lineaments are extensional features that correspond to normal faults. Most of these were subsequently reactivated into strike-slip shear fractures. The NW-SE and N-S lineaments represent dilatational fractures. The N-S trending lineaments are the oldest. The E-W lineaments form conjugate shear fractures and are younger than the N-S lineaments. These conjugate shear fractures are also older than other set of conjugate shear fractures oriented NE-SW. The evolution of all these fractures is attributed to the DST and the Red Sea spreading. Kinematic and dynamic analysis of the two, older and younger, pairs of conjugate strike-slip fractures revealed, respectively, broadly NW-SE and N-S oriented transpressional stress (σ 1) with corresponding transtensional stress (σ 3) oriented NE-SW and E-W.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Arlegui, L., Soriano, M., 1998. Characterizing Lineaments from Satellite Images and Field Studies in the Central Ebro Basin (NE Spain). International Journal of Remote Sensing, 19: 3169–3185
Atallah, M., 1992. On the Structural Pattern of the Dead Sea Transform and Its Related Structures in Jordan. Abhath Al-Yarmouk, 1: 127–143
Barjous, M., 1992. The Geology of Ash Shawbak. Geological Mapping Division, Natural Resources Authority, Amman
Barjous, M., Mikbel, S., 1990. Tectonic Evolution of the Gulf of Aqaba-Dead Sea Transform Fault System. Tectonophysics, 180: 49–59
Batayneh, A., 1996. Shear Zones in Northeast Jordan Interpreted from Gravity Data. Scientia Geologica Sinica, 5: 11–16
Batayneh, A., 2011. Application of Geoelectric Methods on Paleoenvironments of the Qa’el-Jufr Lake, Southeastern Jordan Plateau. Journal of King Saud University-Science, 23: 381–388
Batayneh, A., Al-Zoubi, A., 2001. The Gravity Field and Crustal Structure of the Northwestern Arabian Plate in Jordan. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 32: 141–148
Chu, D., Gordon, R., 1998. Current Plate Motions across the Red Sea. Geophysical Journal International, 135: 313–328
Davies, C., 2005. Quaternary Paleoenvironments and Potential for Human Exploitation of the Jordan Plateau Desert Interior. Geoarchaeology, 20: 379–400
Diabat, A., 2002. Strain Analysis of the Cretaceous Rocks in the Eastern Margin of the Dead Sea Transform, Jordan. Dirasat, 29: 159–172
Diabat, A., 2006. The State of Paleostress along the Siwaqa Fault Based on Fault-Slip Data. Al-Manarah, 12: 131–150
Diabat, A., Atallah, M., Salih, M., 2004. Paleostress Analysis of the Cretaceous Rocks in the Eastern Margin of the Dead Sea Transform. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 38: 449–460
Hofstetter, R., Klinger, Y., Amrat, A., et al., 2007. Stress Tensor and Focal Mechanisms along the Dead Sea Fault and Related Structural Elements Based on Seismological Data. Tectonophysics, 429: 165–181
Joffe, S., Garfunkel, Z., 1987. Plate Kinematics of the Circum Red Sea: A Re-Evaluation. Tectonophysics, 141: 5–22
Klinger, Y., Avouac, J., Abou Karaki, N., et al., 2000. Slip Rate on the Dead Sea Transform Fault in Northern Araba Valley. Geophysical Journal International, 142: 755–768
Mikbel, S., 1986. Some Relevant Tectonical and Geotechnical Considerations of South Amman Area/Jordan. Dirasat, 7: 215–225
Moh’d, B., 1986. The Geology of Wadi Al Buway’ija. Geological Mapping Division, Natural Resources Authority, Jordan
Moumani, K., 2006. The Geology of Al Jafr Area. Geological Mapping Division, Natural Resources Authority, Jordan
Pal, S., Bhattacharya, A., Majumdar, T., 2006. Geological Interpretation from Bouguer Gravity Data over the Singhbhum-Orissa Craton and Its Surroundings: A GIS Approach. Journal of Indian Geophysical Union, 10: 313–325
Powell, J., 1989. Stratigraphy and Sedimentation of the Phanerozoic Rocks in Central and South Jordan: Ram and Khreim Groups. Geological Mapping Division, Natural Resources Authority, Jordan
Ron, H., Freund, R., Garfunkel, Z., et al., 1984. Block Rotation by Strike-Slip Faulting: Structural and Paleomagnetic Evidence. Journal of Geophysical Research, 89: 6256–6270
Shapira, A., Hofstetter, H., 1993. Source Parameters and Scaling Relationships of Earthquakes in Israel. Tectonophysics, 217: 217–226
Spector, A., Grant, F., 1970. Statistical Models for Interpreting Aeromagnetic Data. Geophysics, 35: 293–302
Tchalenko, J., Ambraseys, N., 1970. Structural Analysis of the Dasht-e Bayaz (Iran) Earthquake Fractures. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 81: 41–60
ten Brink, U., Rybakov, M., Al-Zoubi, A., et al., 1999. Anatomy of the Dead Sea Transform: Does It Reflect Continuous Changes in Plate Motion? Geology, 27: 887–890
Verma, R., Sharma, A., Mukhopadhyay, M., 1984. Gravity Field over Singhbhum, Its Relationship to Geology and Tectonics History. Tectonophysics, 106: 87–107
Zain Eldeen, U., Delvaux, D., Jacobs, P., 2002. Tectonic Evolution in the Wadi Araba Segment of the Dead Sea Rift, Southwest Jordan. EGU Stephan Mueller Special Publication Series, 2: 63–81
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
This study was supported by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (NPST) Program, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia (No. 11-WAT1731-02).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Batayneh, A., Ghrefat, H. & Diabat, A. Lineament characterization and their tectonic significance using gravity data and field studies in the Al-Jufr area, southeastern Jordan plateau. J. Earth Sci. 23, 873–880 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-012-0298-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-012-0298-6