| Relationships among the varied rock units of the Cape Breton Highlands as revealed by geological mapping are not everywhere clear, in part due to limited exposure and also to difficulty of access in some areas. This study was undertaken to try to improve on the geological interpretation of the highlands, especially in those problematic areas, by combining geological and remote sensing databases.; The geological database was assembled based mainly on published maps. Remotely sensed information used in the study included Radarsat S7, Landsat TM, gravity, magnetic (vertical gradient and total field) and radiometric data. A Digital Elevation Model (DEM) was constructed from 174 Nova Scotia 1:10,000-scale contour map sheets. The geological, geophysical, and remotely sensed data were integrated into a Geographical Information System, and the resulting database was used to evaluate the various geological interpretations of the highlands. The combined DEM and vertical gradient image and a classified image based on radiometric data proved most useful in the interpretation process.; The key result of the study was to demonstrate how the combined data sets can lead to improved geological interpretation, in particular with respect to geological contacts between known map units in poorly exposed areas, and in the location of major faults and postulated terrane boundaries. Granitoid map units were best detected and distinguished with the radiometric data. |
