Abstract: Objective In recent years, drill-core multi-parameter digitalization technologies have developed rapidly, from a single drill-core image acquisition to the comprehensive collection of various chemical and physical parameters, which has played an increasingly important role in the exploration and development of mineral resources and earth system scientific research. Method this paper illustrates the research and development progress of drill-core digitalization technologies for the three most important parameters of core images, minerals and elements in the world, and summarizes the latest application of drill-core digitalization data in the fields of geotechnical indexes, mineral exploration, paleoenvironment research and environmental protection. Results due to late start in the R&D and application of drill-core digital technologies, the equipment and technology R&D in China lagged that of other countries, and there were problems such as low cohesion, unclear in data mining and blindness with geological application needs. Conclusions This paper puts forward the following prospects: to promote the development of drill-core image digitization in quantitative calculation, promote the development of drill-core infrared spectral digitization in full spectrum and imaging scanning, promote the data integration and joint application of drill-core XRF and LIBS digitalization, promote the data integration and analysis of drill-core digital data with geological log, laboratory tests, physical and chemical exploration and other data, to support big data intelligent prospecting.