Muon Tomography for Underground Resources

Muon geotomography can be used to generate 3D models of subsurface density, which can be used in a wide variety of exploration and monitoring end uses for underground resources such as mineral deposits and oil reservoirs. Increasingly, the resources required to enable future technologies are being found deeper and under cover. Innovative techniques such as muon geotomography have proven capability to discover and map these resources in a cost-effective and environmentally sound manner. This chapter presents an overview of the relevant physics underlying muon geotomography, and case studies in mineral exploration within North America and Australia that demonstrate its efficacy for underground resource applications.