Abstract: Methods are provided for characterizing organic matter in a geological rock formation that perform a Raman spectroscopy measurement on a rock sample of the formation to acquire a Raman spectrum of the rock sample. At least one processor is used to perform operations that involve i) analyzing the Raman spectrum of the rock sample to determine data characterizing at least one Raman spectral feature corresponding to the rock sample, ii) inputting the data characterizing the at least one Raman spectral feature corresponding to the rock sample into a computation model that determines a value of a property of organic matter in the rock sample given the data characterizing the at least one Raman spectral feature as input, and storing or outputting or displaying the value of the property of organic matter in the rock sample. In embodiments, the property of organic material in the rock sample can be a property of kerogen in the rock sample, or a property of asphaltenes or bitumen in the rock sample.