Compiling regional structures in geological databases: The giant quartz veins of the Pyrenees as a case study

Gathering and arranging specific data related to different types of geological structures in thematic and interactive databases has become central for the geosciences. However, a well-defined workflow to achieve this goal is currently lacking. We present a Geographical Information System-based metho...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: González-Esvertit, Eloi, Canals i Sabaté, Àngels, Bons, Paul D., Casas Tuset, Josep Maria, Gómez Rivas, Enrique
Format: article
Status:Versión aceptada para publicación
Publication Date:2022
Country:España
Institution:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repository:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/195450
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/195450
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Geologia estructural
Gestió de bases de dades
Quars
Pirineus
Structural geology
Database management
Quartz
Pyrenees
Description
Summary:Gathering and arranging specific data related to different types of geological structures in thematic and interactive databases has become central for the geosciences. However, a well-defined workflow to achieve this goal is currently lacking. We present a Geographical Information System-based method for the systematic compilation, evaluation, and interpretation of regional geological structures. The method is demonstrated by indexing 741 giant quartz veins cropping out along the Pyrenees (SW Europe) in a database called GIVEPY (GIant quartz VEins of the PYrenees). The GIVEPY database incorporates information of the geometry, distribution, and statistics of the indexed veins, as well as of their host rocks, and can serve as a starting point for boosting the understanding of giant quartz veins in the Pyrenees and other areas. The first-order structural controls on vein emplacement are hypothesized on the basis of vein distribution and linkage with other brittle and ductile structures, such as faults, folds, shear zones, and regional foliations. Furthermore, we discuss the strengths and limitations of the workflow and its potential application to other geological structures. The GIVEPY database is dynamic and freely available at https://givepy.info/.