FIELD: search for mineral deposits, exposure and study of geological structures. SUBSTANCE: optical fixing of ice-covered surface of non-flowing and weakly flowing water basins is conducted during ice formation and locations of formations of accumulated gas which is result of outlet of natural gases from bosom to ground surface are exposed. Samples of gas from frozen gas accumulations controlled by ice traps formed by discrete flow of gas are taken and material and quantitative analyses of gas are carried out. Conclusion on presence of deposit of mineral resource is made by material analysis of gas and by area occupied by gas formations discovered under ice-covered surface of water basins and sites for search and prospecting holes are selected. Process leads to territorial expansion of application field of atmospheric geochemical methods of survey thanks to possibility of its usage in terrain difficult of access, for instance, under conditions of taiga and tundra landscape. EFFECT: reduced labor and financial input to geological search operations due to abandonment of use of gas-taking boreholes. 6 dwg
