Petrophysics in mining involves the study of the physical properties of rocks to support mineral exploration, resource evaluation, and extraction planning. Mining petrophysics often focuses on properties related to the ore quality and geophysical mapping targets, such as density, magnetic susceptibility, electrical conductivity, and natural gamma radiation, however extends to subsurface fluid chemisty & flow (porosity and permeability). 

Petrophysical data in mining is used to:

 

• Identify and classify rocks by measuring physical properties, geoscientists can differentiate between various rock types and identify the host rocks for mineralization.

• Understand the physical property contrasts associated with an ore body helping geophysicists interpret geophysical survey data (e.g., magnetic and gravity surveys) to find new deposits, especially those at greater depths or under cover.

• Assess ore quality using properties like density and conductivity, which can provide insights into the concentration of valuable minerals, such as iron sulphides, which often have distinct physical characteristics.

• Aid mine planning, informing engineering decisions, such as determining rock strength and elastic properties, which are crucial for assessing the stability of boreholes, designing excavation methods, and planning infrastructure.

• Understand alteration, as deposits are often associated with zones of altered rock. Petrophysics helps map these alteration areas, which may have distinct physical properties compared to the surrounding unaltered rock.