Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for the identification of a constituent of or within a rock. The method included: applying low level electromagnetic energy to the rock thereby inducing a thermal response from the constituent; imaging the thermal response from the constituent to obtain thermal image within a plurality of distinctive bands of IR spectra; interpreting the thermal images to identify the constituent. The apparatus includes: a low level electromagnetic energy generator/applicator for inducing a thermal response from the constituent; an infra-red imaging device for imaging the thermal responses induced within a plurality of distinctive bands of IR spectra; and a computing device for interpreting the thermal images produced by the imaging device to identify the constituent within the rock.