Evaluation of the relationship between the main lineament trends and the geometry of the drainage network using SPOT-5 and SRTM data: a case study from Bulghah area, Saudi Arabia

This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between lineament trends and drainage network orientations at Bulghah area, Saudi Arabia, using SPOT-5 and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) elevation data. Three sectors namely A, B, and C represent the study area. They are covered by Hulayfah volcanics intruded by diorite intrusion, and they are traversed by numerous lineaments of various directions and lengths. Lineaments and drainage network distribution maps are generated using panchromatic SPOT-5 imagery and SRTM data, respectively. Rose diagrams for lineaments and drainage lines are constructed to demonstrate the main azimuth trends dominated in each sector. The results of the present study revealed the presence of a strong and a close relationship between lineament trends and drainage network orientations. Most of the drainage channels are structurally controlled, and they are following Nabitah and Najd fault directions. At sectors “A” and “C,” the drainage networks are completely coincide with the major lineaments having NW–SE, NE–SW, and E–W directions. At sector “B,” the N–S to NNE Nabitah older strike–slip fault has been offseted by NW–SE Najd fault system. Lineament density map for the study area is generated using lineaments lengths (km) to locate the most promising areas for groundwater exploration. This study presents two promising sites for groundwater exploration at sectors A and C.