Seeing the unseen

The vast majority of mineral deposits that can be located on the surface of the Earth have been discovered. To find more, we need to look beneath the surface – to see the unseen. This is the role of geophysics.

Geophysics is the study of the Earth’s interior using principles of physics that provides a non-destructive and non-invasive image of what lies beneath the ground. Exploration geophysicists use airborne and ground-based methods to locate and map resources such as mineral deposits, gas, oil and coal.

Ore deposits typically feature distinct magnetic, electrical or gravitational properties that can be identified and mapped using magnetic, electromagnetic, electric, gravitational, radiometric or seismic data collection methods.

Geophysicists often work across a wide variety of settings, and employ a range of geophysical methods at different scales.