Remote sensing geological characteristics of the Ordos Basin

Based on field work and the interpretation of the 1:250,000 satellite TM image of the Ordos Basin, the authors found:a. There are many linear faulted structures with six different strike directions in the Ordos Basin, which are buried, small in fault throw and little in strength. The faults in the same direction extend as discontinuous belts and the distance between two adjacent belts are approximately constant, and all the belts with different directions show a gridding pattern. These faults are obviously controlling the topography, physiognomy and water systems. This provides a convincing evidence of neotectonic movements in the basin. b. There are many differences between the remote sensing images of the south basin and the north basin, which indicate that the geologic structures in the two areas are very different. It is notable that there is a huge annular image with a clear edge in the south Ordos Basin. It almost covers all the area of the Loess Plateau in the basin and in which there are four series of faults with different strike direction, NW or NNW, NE or NNE, EW and SN. This annular image is a result of complicated movements of the structures in the middle and south basin which control the boundary of the basin, does not indicate that there is a huge annular plate rotating in the south of the basin.