Morphotectonic analysis of digital relief model - a suitable means of searching for zones of rock mass brittle failure

Abstract

The paper deals with the suitability of using the morphostructural analysis of the digital relief model (DRM) for compiling a geological map fault network focused on brittle failure of the rock mass. Attention is paid to the description of the procedure of interpreting the individual outputs of the morphometric methods selected. An important role in compiling the resulting network of the rock mass brittle fault failure is played by the comparative analysis of the structural-tectonic mapping with the morpholineament network obtained by morphostructural DRM interpretation. Unless the comparative analysis has been completed, the resulting morpholineament network can hardly be considered a fault network of the studied area. Many relief morpholineaments have no geological foundation. Finally, the resulting geological network is compared with the current geological maps and a brief summary is given on the advantages or disadvantages of the morphostructural analysis applied at compiling the fault network of the mass brittle failure. The selected area of interest was the Moravosilesian zone of the Bohemian Massif, which is exceptional for the superposition of three structural levels (Alpine, Variscan and Cadomian).