In our geopolitical dependency, the exploration of raw materials is becoming increasingly important again. This includes on the one hand energy resources such as coal, oil and gas, and on the other hand especially mineral raw materials such as industrial minerals, metals as well as industrial rocks and minerals (construction raw materials). During a geophysical supported exploration of raw material deposits, several questions often have to be clarified. The depth of the top and bottom of the raw material deposits as well as the spatial distribution and thus a quantitative estimation are in the focus of most projects. Furthermore, the composition as well as a grain size distribution can be estimated via various physical properties, such as the specific electrical resistance. The connection with groundwater resources is also important for various raw materials and their exploitability or (legal) exploitability.
If a raw material deposit reaches an economic mining value, it is called a deposit. In geophysics, various methods are available for the exploration of raw materials. Seismic reflection is used for structural exploration of deeper (> 50 m) deposits. Seismic refraction is available for shallower (< 150 m) exploration and shows mostly the upper edge, sometimes also the lower edge of deposits very reliably as results. Geoelectrics can show the grain size distribution well for unconsolidated sediment.