Methods of identifying geological materials of interest comprising (i) providing a nanoprobe composition comprising one or more nanoprobes; wherein the nanoprobe includes (a) at least one tag; and (b) at least one signal generator; (ii) introducing the nanoprobes to a geological material; and (iii) detecting the presence of a signal generated by the signal generator on association of the tag with a target. Nanoprobe compositions identify geological materials, systems include such nanoprobe compositions, and methods use such nanoprobe compositions for the evaluation of geological materials.