Remote Sensing of the Hossack Road Project-Waikite Area, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand

Abstract

The Waikite area is located in the Maroa Volcanic Center of the Taupo Volcanic Zone in North Island, New Zealand. The conventional method of aerial photograph interpretation was used in conjunction with digital topographic data analysis through shaded relief maps, to determine the geological structures of the area. The Waikite area is dominated by fme main fracture sets oriented : a) 040"- 050% 10" b) 320"- 330"+ 10" c) 000" - 010" d) 090"- l O O k 10" ande) 060"- 070". The Waikite thermal area falls along the intersection of northeast and northest trending lineaments which supports earlier workers ' findings. The prevailing fault pattern indicates structural deformation by simple parallel wrenching along the major northeast trending faults. Compressive forces are associated with the oblique subduction of the PaciJic Plate beneath the North Island.