Aerospace photography in the service of geology

Among the methods of studying the geological structure of the earth and its mineral and raw material resources, aerospace photography presently occupies one of the leading places. Using sensing equipment installed aboard spacecraft and airplanes (photographic, photoscanning, television, radiometric etc.), large geological bodies and structures are studied, and their relationships in space analyzed. The information helps to establish the laws of mineral distribution and reveal areas in which new mineral deposits might be discovered. By subjecting high altitude and space photography to geological analysis, information on the structure and composition of not only deposits nears the surface but also rock lying much deeper down are obtained.