*' I 

Rpplication of Shuttle Imaging Radar to Geologic mapping 

A Final Report 

Contract # 95720 1 

Theodore C. Labotka 

Department of Geological Sciences 

The University of Tennessee 

Knoxville, Tennessee 37996- 1 4 10 

28 February 1986 

(BAS A-CR-173952) APPLlCATIOI OI SHUTTLE ?la?-1 3837 

ldAGING EADAR TO GEOLOOJC 8APffOC Piual 

Feport {Tennessee Univ.) e r; CSCL 08G 

URCldS 

G3/43 43633 

This work was performed for the Jet Propulsion 

Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, 

sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration. 

Reference herein to any specific commercial 

product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not 

constitute or imply endorsement by the United 

States Government, the University of Tennessee, 

or the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California 

Institute of Technology. 
1 

Images from the Shuttle Imaging Radar - B (SIR-8) experiment c wing the 

area of the Panamint Mountains, Death Valley, California, were e Jmined in 

the field and in the laboratory to determine their usefulness b I aids for 

geologic mapping. The covered area includes the region arounc. Wildrose 

Canyon where rocks ranging in age from Precambrian to Cen0zo.c form a 

moderately rugged portion of the Panamint Mountains, includ ng sharp 

ridges, broad alluviated upland valleys, and fault-bounded grabens. The 

results of the study indicate that the available SIR-B images of this area 

primarily illustrate variations in topography, except in the broadly 

alluviated areas of Panamint Valley and Death Valley where deposits of 

differing reflectivity can be recognized. Within the mountainous portion of 

the region, three textures can be discerned, each representing a different 

mode of topographic expression related to the erosion characteristics of the 

underlying bedrock. Regions of Precambrian bedrock have smooth slopes and 

sharp ridges with a low density of gullies. Tertiary monolithologic breccias 

have smooth, steep slopes with an intermediate density of gullies with 

rounded ridges. Tertiary fanglomerates have steep rugged slopes with 

numerous steep-sided gullies and knife-sharp ridges. The three topographic 

types reflect the consistancy and relative susceptibility to erosion of the 

bedrock; the three types can readily be recognized on topographic maps. At 

present, it has not been possible to distinguish on the SIR-B image of the 

mountainous terrain the type of bedrock, independent of the topographic 

expression. 
"3WIGYNAL. PAGE IS 

OF POOR QUAUTY ORIGINAL PAGE IS 

r)F r>Pc\? r-. . -. 

Objectives 

The study was an assesment of the techniques and strz igies for 

quantitative interpretation of SIR-B data for lithologic icientifi .3tion rid 

geologic mapping. The brightness, or backscatter, of units as a f .inction gf 

incidence angle can be used to discriminate surfaces of differen: relative 

roughness and to determine actual roughness of geologic surfa:es. The 

roughness can be used to infer rock types through knowledge of their 

weathering characteristics. 

Characterization of rock types in terms of backscatter and texture in multiincidence angle SIR-B images can be used in conjunction with images from 

other sensors to assist in lithologic identification. The information 

contained in multi-incidence angle SIR-6 images is complementary to 

information in images acquired at other wavelengths such as visible-near 

infrared, mid-infrared, and thermal infrared. Each wavelength region 

contributes information on different physical parameters that, taken 

together, may yield a solution to the problem of rock type identification 

from space. 

The target area used for testing the usefulness of SIR-B images as aids to 

geologic mapping is a portion of the Panamint Mountains and Death Valley, in 

eastern California. The region is arid and contains a great amount of relief, 

ranging from -90 to +3600 m. The rock types that make up the Panamint 

Mountains include Precambrian gneiss, schist, marble, and quartz1 te, which 

have been folded and faulted during Late Cretaceous time. Along the 

western margin of the range, these rock types were brecciated and faulted 

to form a slide mass during Late Tertiary time. At about the same time, 

thick sections of fanglomerate were deposited in the nascent Panamint 

Valley. Uplift of the Panamint Range in Late Tertiary to Quaternary time 

resulted in a rugged mountain range surrounded by deeply alluviated, faultbounded valleys. The four types of deposits, Precambrian rocks, Tertiary 

slide masses, Tertiary fanglomerates, and Quaternary valley fill, each have 

a characteristlc topography resulting from the erosion characteristics of 

each. Regions of Precambrian bedrock have smooth slopes and sharp ridges 

with a low density of gullies. Tertiary monolithologic breccias have 

smooth, steep slopes with an intermediate density of gullies with rounded 

ridges. Tertiary fanglomerates have steep rugged slopes with numerous 

steep-sided gullies and knife-sharp ridges. And the Quaternary valley fill is 

relatively flat, but interrupted by recent fault scarps. The topcgraphic and 

lithologic variety makes the Panamint Mountain area an ideal location to 

test the usefulness of the SIR-B images. 
Results 

The topography and geology of the area covered by the SIR-E nage are 

shown in Figure 1, and the image is shown in Figure 2. The qu: Ity of the 

image in many areas is poor where the return signal was weal and noisy. 

This is particularly true in Panamint Valley and in the upland iarrisburg 

Flats. However, the quality in Death Valley is good, where thc salt pan, 

encrusted salt deposits, modern alluvial deposits, and desert pawment are 

all clearly seen. In PanamInt Valley, the contrast between deposits is low, 

but modern and ancient alluvial deposits can be distinguished, pzrticularly 

near the mouth of Wildrose Canyon where the alluvium has bee? faulted, 

forming Wildrose Graben. Although contrast in the mountainous portion of 

the image is low, the three topographic types can be recognked. The 

Precambrian bedrock areas show relatively smooth slopes and a low density 

of gullies. The monolithologic breccia deposits have smooth slopes but a 

high density of gullies, and the fanglomerate deposits have rugged slopes 

and a high density of gullies. 

One of the tests of the usefulness of the radar image was to distinguish 

among these three types of bedrock in regions of low relief where 

topographic expression is ambiguous. The appropriate area is in Harrisburg 

Flats. During this funded period, a portion of Harrisburg Flats was mapped 

on a scale of 2" = 1 mile, and all three bedrock types were found to be 

present over large areas. Unfortunately, the radar signal from this region 

was weak and noisy, making the recognition of the three rock types from the 

radar image difficult. Continued mapping of the region where the radar 

signal was strong is required to test the ability to distinguish different 

rock types based on their scattering properties, independent of their 

topographic expression. 

The results of this preliminary study where presented to the Geological 

Society of America Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida, on 3 1 October 1985. 

A copy of the abstract is attached. These preliminary results will be 

published in Geo/qy later this year. 
3R!QP%fik, PAGE PS 

OF POOR QUALm 

Figure 1. Simplified geologic map of the portion of the Panamint 1 'ountains 

cover by the SIR-B image. The covered area lies between the NE-trending 

lines. The stippled pattern represents Tertiary fanglomerate, tt 2 circled 

pattern represents monolithologic slide breccias, the hatchure! pattern 

represents the Skidoo granite, and the unpatterened area represent: bedrock. 

PC1 is Middle Proterozoic gneiss, PC2 is Late Proterozoic Pahrun-!p Group, 

PC3 is Late Proterozoic metasedimentary rock, and I P is Paleozoic rock. 

Figure 2. SIR-6 image. NE flight path, SE illumination direction, 440 

incidence angle. 


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1 NO 58481 

LABOTKA, Theodore C., Dept. of Geological Sciences, The University 

The Shuttle Imaging Radar (SIR)-B was launched in October, 1984, as a 

multi-incidence angle, digitally correlated experiment. Although all 

aspects of the experiment were not realized, the central part of 

Death Valley and the Wildrose area of the Panamint Mountains were 

viewed at an incidence angle of 44O. This is a region that has been 

undergoing extension since Tertiary time. The radar image is a 

considerable aid in distinguishing various deposits that formed as a 

result of uplift of the Panamint Mountains. The rocks that compose 

the Panamint Mountains are classed as one of three types: deformed 

and metamorphosed Mesozoic basement rocks, slide masses composed of 

variably brecciated basement rocks, and uplifted and east-tilted 

fanglomerates. Each rock type has a distinct surface texture easily 

seen in the SIR-B image. The basement rocks are smooth with sharp, 

well defined ridges. The slide masses have a reticulated topography 

with a high density of steep-sided ridges. The fanglomerates have a 

dimpled texture resulting from a high density of short, steep side 

ridges. The SIR-B image is very detailed in areas of low relief 

where active alluvial systems are much brighter than old surfaces 

with well developed desert pavements. Numerous fault scarps are also 

clearly visible and features like Wildrose Graben are prominent in 

the image. The SIR-B image is used in conjunction with Thematic 

Mapper and aerial photography as a mapping tool for deciphering the 

relative developments of slide masses and fanglomerates. The images 

have helped identify previously unrecognized slide masses, including 

masses containing Tertiary basalt. The results indicate that slide 

mass development continued after the deposition of the fanglomerates, 

although the large masses that make up the west scarp of the range 

formed prior to the fanglomerates. 

UPLIFT OF THE PANAMINT MOUNTAINS, CALIFORNIA: 

A RADAR VIEW FROM THE SPACE SHUTTLE 

of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996 

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