Tracing along-strike structural continuity in the Neoproterozoic Allaqi-Heiani Suture, southern Egypt using principal component analysis (PCA), fast Fourier transform (FFT), and redundant wavelet transform (RWT) of ASTER data

This work helped in tracing structures along the Allaqi-Heiani Suture and revealed structural features that have not been identified before: (1) Some folds associated with the S-verging fold and thrust belts are periclinal folds that might be associated with nappe emplacement. (2) Truncation of structures associated with the S-verging fold and thrust belts occurs along NNW-trending sinistral strike-slip shear zones that swing at their extreme ends to become parallel to the truncated structures. (3) Presence of N-trending folds close to the NNW-trending sinistral strike-slip shear zones. (4) Presence of N- and NE-trending brittle faults younger than the Neoproterozoic ductile structures. Nappes identified in the west are traced into the central part of the suture allowing for subsequent modification by younger structures. The difference in structural styles along the suture might be due to development of frontal and lateral ramps along the traces of the orogen front. This was followed by superimposition of E-W shortening to produce N-trending folds that are localized close to the lateral ramps. Subsequently, N- and NE-trending brittle faults were developed and deformed early Neoproterozoic ductile structures.