ABSTRACT
The purpose of this section is to review some examples where remote sensing has contributed to the discovery of minerals and hydrocarbons. Petroleum case histories are given for basins in different stages of exploration maturity, for structural and stratigraphic traps, and using different sensor systems. Examples are provided for hydrothermal gold exploration, porphyry copper systems, and diamond exploration. It is necessary to limit this list here, and readers are referred to the literature for more extensive readings. It is also important to repeat that remote sensing in and of itself is not a stand-alone exploration tool. None of the discoveries reviewed here are exclusively the result of a remote sensing/photogeologic study. Indeed, in most exploration programs the contribution of remote sensing comes at the start of the program, that is, it is used to define an area wherein to stake claims, acquire leases, or to design follow-up surveys. Therefore, although there are some cases of discoveries made using only remote sensing, in most cases remote sensing is but one early step in a long process. The following case histories are culled from the remote sensing and industry literature and are meant to serve as examples of different approaches to exploration programs.
