A method for characterizing properties of a rock sample obtained from a subterranean formation, comprising: i) obtaining a sample of a rock formation and weighing the rock sample to determine the absolute mass M R of the rock sample; (ii) performing an NMR measurement on the rock sample; and (iii) performing an IR spectroscopy measurement on the rock sample to acquire an IR spectrum of the rock sample in the spectral range from 400-4000 cm -1; in a data processor: iv) analyzing results of the NMR measurement to acquire data representing a T 1 -T 2 distribution of the rock sample and analyzing the data representing the T1-T2 distribution to compute data representing volumes of soluble organic components of the rock sample and data representing pore volume of the sample; v) computing data representing mass fractions of soluble organic components of the rock sample based on the data representing volumes of soluble organic components and the absolute mass M R of the rock sample; vi) analysing the IR spectrum to determine data that characterized mass fractions of inorganic material components and kerogen of the rock sample; vii) obtaining data representing a residuum IR spectrum by subtracting a contribution of organic soluble components from the acquired IR spectrum based on the computed data representing mass fractions of the organic soluble components in the rock sample and analyzing the data representing the residuum IR spectrum to generate data that characterizes properties of kerogen in the rock sample, the properties including kerogen density; viii) determining data characterizing matrix density of the rock sample based on the sum of mass fractions of inorganic mineral components and kerogen in the rock sample as determined in v) divided by their known densities and the density of kerogen as determined in vii) ix) determining data characterizing bulk volume of the rock sample based on the pore volume and the matrix density of the rock sample; and x) determining data characterizing porosity of the rock sample based on the pore volume and the bulk volume of the rock sample; i) obtaining a sample of a rock formation and weighing the rock sample to determine the absolute mass M R of the rock sample; (ii) performing an NMR measurement on the rock sample; and (iii) performing an IR spectroscopy measurement on the rock sample to acquire an IR spectrum of the rock sample in the spectral range from 400-4000 cm -1; in a data processor: iv) analyzing results of the NMR measurement to acquire data representing a T 1 -T 2 distribution of the rock sample and analyzing the data representing the T1-T2 distribution to compute data representing volumes of soluble organic components of the rock sample and data representing pore volume of the sample; v) computing data representing mass fractions of soluble organic components of the rock sample based on the data representing volumes of soluble organic components and the absolute mass M R of the rock sample; vi) analysing the IR spectrum to determine data that characterized mass fractions of inorganic material components and kerogen of the rock sample; vii) obtaining data representing a residuum IR spectrum by subtracting a contribution of organic soluble components from the acquired IR spectrum based on the computed data representing mass fractions of the organic soluble components in the rock sample and analyzing the data representing the residuum IR spectrum to generate data that characterizes properties of kerogen in the rock sample, the properties including kerogen density; viii) determining data characterizing matrix density of the rock sample based on the sum of mass fractions of inorganic mineral components and kerogen in the rock sample as determined in v) divided by their known densities and the density of kerogen as determined in vii) ix) determining data characterizing bulk volume of the rock sample based on the pore volume and the matrix density of the rock sample; and x) determining data characterizing porosity of the rock sample based on the pore volume and the bulk volume of the rock sample;