An optical analyzer system for identifying materials through near-infrared reflectance spectral analysis in the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range, the system comprising: a light source, a bifurcated fiber-optic reflection probe consisting of: a probe tip positionable close to a sample; a separate single receiving fiber (1130; 1210) for receiving reflected light from the sample; an illumination fiber bundle of four or more optical fibers to relay light from the light source to the sample; and a bifurcated section where the illumination fiber bundle is combined with the single receiving fiber so that the illumination fiber bundle is arranged in a concentric manner around the single receiving fiber at the probe tip; an optical efficiency enhancing element an optical spectrometer connected to an end of the separate single receiving fiber of the fiber-optic reflect probe that is away from the probe tip; and a computer or microprocessor system, interfaced with the optical spectrometer, that includes a computer memory module for storing and retrieving data, wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing, analysis, and display of the spectral data characterized by the light source comprising a light-emitting diode LED array, which is a ring-shaped circular array containing between 4 and 20 LEDs covering the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range; the optical efficiency enhancing element comprising an optical concentrator (310, 530) or an optical waveguide (610, 710), that directs light emitted by the light source to an end of the illumination fiber bundle of the fiber-optic reflection probe that is closest to the light source: the optical concentrator (310, 530) being from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator all with the small diameter end of the concentrator towards the end of the illumination fiber bundle; or the optical waveguide (610, 710) being a waveguide with a polygonal or elliptically distorted polygonal cross-section. a light source, a bifurcated fiber-optic reflection probe consisting of: a probe tip positionable close to a sample; a separate single receiving fiber (1130; 1210) for receiving reflected light from the sample; an illumination fiber bundle of four or more optical fibers to relay light from the light source to the sample; and a bifurcated section where the illumination fiber bundle is combined with the single receiving fiber so that the illumination fiber bundle is arranged in a concentric manner around the single receiving fiber at the probe tip; a probe tip positionable close to a sample; a separate single receiving fiber (1130; 1210) for receiving reflected light from the sample; an illumination fiber bundle of four or more optical fibers to relay light from the light source to the sample; and a bifurcated section where the illumination fiber bundle is combined with the single receiving fiber so that the illumination fiber bundle is arranged in a concentric manner around the single receiving fiber at the probe tip; an optical efficiency enhancing element an optical spectrometer connected to an end of the separate single receiving fiber of the fiber-optic reflect probe that is away from the probe tip; and a computer or microprocessor system, interfaced with the optical spectrometer, that includes a computer memory module for storing and retrieving data, wherein the computer or microprocessor system controls the collection of spectral data, storage of the collected spectral data, and processing, analysis, and display of the spectral data characterized by the light source comprising a light-emitting diode LED array, which is a ring-shaped circular array containing between 4 and 20 LEDs covering the 700 - 1100 nm or the 900 - 1700 nm wavelength range; the optical efficiency enhancing element comprising an optical concentrator (310, 530) or an optical waveguide (610, 710), that directs light emitted by the light source to an end of the illumination fiber bundle of the fiber-optic reflection probe that is closest to the light source: the optical concentrator (310, 530) being from the set of a reflective cone shaped concentrator, a refractive solid cone shaped concentrator, a compound parabolic reflective concentrator with an end of the concentrator having a parabola foci located towards the sample, a compound parabolic refractive lens concentrator, a compound elliptical reflective concentrator, or a compound elliptical refractive lens concentrator all with the small diameter end of the concentrator towards the end of the illumination fiber bundle; or the optical waveguide (610, 710) being a waveguide with a polygonal or elliptically distorted polygonal cross-section.