Airborne Scintillometer Surveys in India

The Atomic Minerals Division of the Department of Atomic Energy carried out Airborne Scintillometer surveys for uranium during the period 1957-62, in parts of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Madras, Mysore, Orissa, Rajasthan and West Bengal, totalling more than 74,000 sq. miles, along some 78,775 line-miles in 1401 flying hours. A brief account of the survey operations reviewing the object and organisation of the airborne radiometry, details of the aircraft and equipment used, operational techniques adopted, principles and physical considerations involved in such surveys, basis of interpretation and evaluation of radioactivity anomalies obtained under different environments, results of the survey in various parts of India, utility and future prospects etc., have been given in the paper.