| Title | Preliminary results and structural interpretations from drone lidar surveys over the Eastern Denali Fault, Yukon |
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| Author | Finley, T; Salomon, G; Nissen, E; Stephen, R; Cassidy, J ; Menounos, B |
| Source | Yukon exploration and geology 2021; by MacFarlane, K E (ed.); Yukon Geological Survey, Yukon Exploration and Geology 2021, 2022 p. 83-105  Open Access |
| Links | Online - En ligne
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| Image |  |
| Year | 2022 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20210433 |
| Publisher | Department of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | digital; on-line |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Yukon |
| NTS | 115G/01; 115G/02; 115G/03; 115G/05; 115G/06; 115G/07; 115G/08; 115G/10; 115G/11; 115G/12; 115G/13; 115G/14 |
| Area | Kluane Lake; Silver City; Destruction Bay; Burwash Landing; Topham Creek; Copper Joe Creek; Duke River; Burwash Creek; Quill Creek; Kluane First Nation |
| Lat/Long WENS | -140.0000 -138.0000 62.0000 61.0000 |
| Subjects | structural geology; tectonics; geophysics; hydrogeology; Science and Technology; Nature and Environment; Health and Safety; structural interpretations; bedrock geology; structural features; faults;
folds; displacement; geophysical surveys; geophysical interpretations; geothermal potential; earthquake risk; seismic risk; permeability; groundwater flow; flow structures; digital terrain modelling; models; mapping techniques; kinematic analysis;
drainage patterns; strain analysis; geometric analyses; Eastern Denali Fault; ArcticDEM; Natural hazards; drones |
| Illustrations | photographs; profiles; location maps; satellite images; 3-D images; tables |
| Program | Public Safety Geoscience Assessing Earthquake Geohazards |
| Released | 2022 01 01 |
| Abstract | The Yukon Geological Survey and Kluane First Nation intend to drill a temperature gradient well near Burwash Landing, YT, to evaluate the geothermal energy potential of the area. The preferred drill
site is located immediately southwest of the Eastern Denali fault (EDF), which has ruptured multiple times in the Holocene. The kinematics and recent activity of the fault are important factors to consider when developing a geothermal resource, for
two purposes: 1. identifying zones of enhanced permeability due to local fault geometry and 2. assessing the seismic hazard of drilling and developing a geothermal system along an active fault. Here, we present new lidar data collected from a drone
platform, which enabled the production of 30 cm spatial resolution bare-earth Digital Terrain Models (DTMs) over several segments of the EDF. These products offer a considerable increase in both spatial resolution and canopy penetration compared to
existing spaceborne and airborne photogrammetric Digital Surface Models (DSMs) and DTMs of the area. We use hillshades to map segments of the EDF surface trace in detail, and we make preliminary interpretations about the structure and kinematics of
the fault. Offset stream channels and hill slopes that cross the fault at high angles indicate dextral offsets ranging between 5 and 75 m. Vertical separation ranges between 0 and 20 m, varying between northeast and southwest-side up. We confirm
previous interpretations that the geothermal drill site is located at a minor releasing bend in the fault. Previous fault maps based on ArcticDEM data showed multiple fault splays parallel to the EDF at the geothermal drill site, whereas the lidar
data indicate strain is concentrated to a singular fault plane in this area. The EDF is characterized by a series of sediment mounds that we interpret to be positive flower structures. The higher spatial resolution achieved by the drone reveals
possible compressional structures (fault tips or folds) consistent with dextral transpression on the surface of these mounds. We recommend additional drone lidar acquisition, field studies, geophysical analysis, and kinematic modeling to be carried
out over the coming year. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
This article explores the applications of a new technology - high resolution drone Lidar data - to study the Eastern Denali Fault (EDF) zone in the
western Yukon. This work supports the development of geothermal resources in the region. Our specific goals are to: 1. identify zones of enhanced permeability due to local fault geometry and 2. Assess the seismic hazard of drilling and developing a
geothermal system along an active fault. Here, we present new high resolution lidar data collected from a drone platform over several segments of the EDF. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 329277 |
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