Photos: Return of the zeppelin

Gem-mining company De Beers is leasing a Zeppelin-NT airship to hunt for potential diamond deposits in Botswana and South Africa from hundreds of feet up in the air. The rigid dirigible carries high-tech sensors from Bell Geospace that conduct geological scans to pinpoint the lower-density rock formations where diamonds may be found. Unlike airplanes, the Zeppelin has a low level of noise and can cruise at low speeds, suitable for the advanced gravity geometry technology.

Photo by Bell Geospace