M. E. Melnikov, S. S. Saprykin, T. M. Hulapova

State scientific centre of the Russia Federation - Federal state unitary geological enterprise
“Southern scientific and production enterprise for offshore geological exploration”

The paper addresses the problems of interpretation of the seabed photoprofiling data, in particular increasing its informative value by way of obtaining additional geological data. Identification of various types of geologic rocks on seabed photographs, correlation of the obtained data with the results of geologic sampling were described. Using the example of detailed photoprofiling carried out in the area of the Gelendzhik guyot of the Magellan Seamount, raised a possibility to use photo information for geologic mapping. It was confirmed, that when planning geologic exploration photoprofiling surveys can not be considered as the main technique, however it can give additional valuable information about the development of various types of rocks. Upgrading the techniques for seabed pictures interpretation was justified and the ways of their improvement were outlined.