Geology & GeoMetallurgy

Geology & GeoMetallurgy

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Free Geology Software (27 replies and 3 comments)

Bob Mathias
8 years ago
Bob Mathias 8 years ago

With technology today many companies offer Free Geology Software and freeware alternatives to specialized software packages. In this discussion I would like to ask what sort of free or low cost software alternatives are being used in the mineral exploration and mining industry?
I will start off the discussion with one piece of freeware I find useful; QGIS is an excellent free alternative to Arcgis. One of the major advantages of QGIS is it is available on multiple operating systems, which is great for those of us using Mac's. Also there is a massive library of free training available online, which is a refreshing change to the expensive webinars offered by Esri the makers of Arcgis. Please keep this discussion open by sharing your freeware alternatives!

Victor Bergman
8 years ago
Victor Bergman 8 years ago

I too use QGIS - I like that you are not tied down to one file format, can import and export easily. 

I Would like a geological cross section add on though. 

(unknown)
8 years ago

QGIS has talked about cross-section functionality for a long time now. If you can't wait, the Interdex software is probably a good option - see the drilling section in same link as above.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Arial Imagery

E-foto – http://www.efoto.eng.uerj.br/en

full implementation of a digital photogrammetric workstation

photo triangulation, stereoscopic modeling, digital elevation model extraction and terrain correction.

tutorials

OSSIM – http://www.ossim.org/

system for remote sensing, image processing, geographical information systems and photogrammetry.

Data Analysis

MatPltLib – http://matplotlib.org/

plots, histograms, power spectra, bar charts, errorcharts, scatterplots, etc

add-ons include a choice projections and mapping toolkits basemap and cartopy, 3d plotting with mplot3d, axes and axis helpers in axes_grid.

GNUplot – http://www.gnuplot.info/

visualize mathematical functions and data interactively

command line driven.

SciPy – http://www.scipy.org/about.html

software for scientific computing in Python, and particularly a specified set of core packages.

SGeMS – http://sgems.sourceforge.net/

Solving problems involving spatially related variables.

User-friendly interface, an interactive 3-D visualization, and a wide selection of algorithms.

Real Statistics using Excel – http://www.real-statistics.com/

Real Statistics Resource Pack: an Excel add-in which extends Excel’s standard statistics capabilities

Advanced worksheet functions and data analysis tools for practical statistical analyses.

SAM – http://sam-spatial-analysis-in-macroecology.software.informer.com/

Package of tools for spatial statistical analysis, mainly for applications in Surface Pattern Spatial Analysis.

Pattern Analysis – http://www.passagesoftware.net/features.php

Pattern Analysis, Spatial Statistics

Point pattern, Contiguous data, Scattered data, anisotropy… and more

V2 still being built.

HPGL – http://hpgl.mit-ufa.com/

High Performance Geostatistics Library.

Simple, ordinary, Indicator and local varying mean kriging, CoKriging, Sequential indicator simulations, Corralelogram SIS and Sequential gaussian simulations.

GRADS – http://opengrads.org/

interactive desktop tool for easy access, manipulation, and visualization of earth science data.

Analysis ToopPak – https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Load-the-Analysis-ToolPak-6a63e598-cd6d-42e3-9317-6b40ba1a66b4?CorrelationId=de7b86af-1d66-4aa5-8a84-289a5b85e7dd&ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US

EXCEL add-in for increased statistics.

Power Map – http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/geoflow_data_viz-041113.aspx

EXCEL add-in for 3D geospatial graphs

bing with excel chart overlays (needs excel 2013+)

Power BI – https://powerbi.microsoft.com/

Microsoft web-based Business Intelligence software

Spatial business intelligence.

1Gb storage on cloud.

MapZen – https://mapzen.com/projects/

Customizable tools for rendering, routing and searching geodata.

Databases and Data Management

XODB Xstract Open Database – http://xodb.xstractgroup.com/

synchronise information between geologists in the field or between servers using Microsoft’s Azure cloud

store detailed exploration data including drilling, QAQC and geophysics.

store geological models

helps with compliance.

adds value in providing detailed reporting and analysis.

DirSyncPro – http://www.dirsyncpro.org/

Synchronisation software

backups from PC to USB/PC or Server.

Scheduling and incremental backups

FreeNAS – http://www.freenas.org/

Data management

FreeNAS is an operating system that can be installed on virtually any hardware platform to share computer data storage over a computer network.

FreeNAS is the simplest way to create a centralized and easily-accessible home for your data.

Zoreto bibliography management – https://www.zotero.org/

easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, cite, and share your research sources.

PostGIS – http://www.bostongis.com

Add spatial capabilities to DDBs

SQlite and SQSpatialLite – http://www.sqlite.org/

Implements a self-contained, serverless, zero-configuration, transactional SQL database engine.

Spatial Lite – http://www.gaia-gis.it/gaia-sins/

Adds GIS and spatial data capabilities to SQLite

Naked Geological data platform – http://nkd.io/ – !!Beta!!

Upload and do analytics on LAS, BlockModels, geological and geophysical data. Manage complex mining assays and sampling

Data models from BGS – http://www.bgs.ac.uk/downloads/browse.cfm?sec=5&cat=199

BGS Open Geoscience Data Models aim to provide open, ready-to-use database designs that are free for all.

ParaviewGeo – http://paraviewgeo.objectivity.ca/

Data visualistion

Mine design, planning and scheduling.

Wide range of different files (over 50 formats) that can be imported as source data for your model.

Handle terabyte-size datasets

Pandas – http://www.scipy.org/about.html

library providing high-performance, easy-to-use data structures and data analysis tools for the Python programming language.

Bacula – http://blog.bacula.org/

Network backup software

Backup, recovery and verification

scalable

Amanda – http://amanda.zmanda.com/

Network backup software

Backup, recovery and verification

Secure to tape disk or cloud.

Rsync – https://rsync.samba.org/

provides fast incremental file transfer to server.

CatMDEdit – http://catmdedit.sourceforge.net/

metadata editor tool that facilitates the documentation of resources, focusing on the description of geographic information resources

Peazip – http://www.peazip.org/

File archiver and data compression software

Over 150 file formats supported for extraction

Mendely – https://www.mendeley.com/

Reference and PDF management.

Library searches and cite as you write.

Accumulo – https://accumulo.apache.org/

key/value store in a robust, scalable, high performance data storage and retrieval system

see GeoMesa for geospatial frontend.

Drilling

Interdex and coreview – http://interdex.software.informer.com/8.0/

Drillhole data 3D visualisation

high quality composite 2D maps.

Create ‘solid’ surfaces and calculate volumes.

Create contours in horizontal and vertical planes. Rotate, pan, zoom, adjust transparency, light sources, and surface properties.

DRX – Drilling Reporting Targetting – http://sourceforge.net/projects/drxproj/

Open source visualization package for the exploration and mining industry.

Drilling planning and optimization.

Drones

OpenPilot – https://www.openpilot.org/

UAV autopilot

Dronecode – https://www.dronecode.org/

UAV autopilot

Geochemistry

GCDkit – http://www.gcdkit.org/

A system for handling and recalculation of whole-rock analyses from igneous rocks

Standard geochemical calculations involving major-, trace-element as well as Sr-Nd data

Common plots (binary, ternary, spider diagrams)

Petrograph – http://accounts.unipg.it/~maurip/SOFTWARE.htm

Visualize, elaborate and model geochemical data

Results and graphs can be exported as vector graphics

SGeMS – http://sgems.sourceforge.net/

Solving problems involving spatially related variables.

User-friendly interface, an interactive 3-D visualization, and a wide selection of algorithms

Geology

see GIS

Exploration tools from edumine – http://www.edumine.com/tools/applications/exploration/

Various useful geology tools.

Earth Core – http://earths-core.en.softonic.com/

600 minerals, 300 gems, 200 rocks, around 900 glossary items

Geocience Analyst – http://www.mirageoscience.com/our-products/software-product/geoscience-analyst

3D visualisation of geoscience data.

import, visualize, annotate, save and distribute 3D geoscientific data and models

dynamic link between 3D views and data tables.

Imports ASCII, ESRI, Geo-referenced images, Geosoft and GOCAD Mining Suitefiles/objects

Geophysics

USGS – http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs-0076-95/FS076-95.html

Potential Field Software

processing, display, and interpretation of potential-field geophysical data

Madagascar – http://www.ahay.org/wiki/Main_Page

Package for multidimensional data analysis and reproducible computational experiments

Gordon Coopers software –http://www.wits.ac.za/academic/science/geosciences/research/geophysics/gordoncooper/6511/software.html

PNNL – https://e4d.pnnl.gov/Pages/Home.aspx

E4D electrical geophysics software

3D modeling and inversion code designed for subsurface imaging and monitoring using static and time-lapse 3D electrical resistivity (ER) or spectral induced polarization (SIP) data.

OpendTECT – http://www.opendtect.org/

Seismic Interpretation

IGeoS – http://seisweb.usask.ca/igeos/

Integrated processing tasks in a wide range of geophysical data analysis

formerly called SIA

USGS – http://crustal.usgs.gov/geophysics/software.html

gravity, magnetics, radiometrics, electrical & electromagnetic, seismic

DMOZ –http://www.dmoz.org/Science/Earth_Sciences/Geophysics/Products_and_Services/Software/

33 software packages

Noddy – http://www.tectonique.net/tectask/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=23&Itemid=70

rapidly build complex 3D geological models and calculate the resulting gravity and magnetic fields

Fatiando – http://www.fatiando.org/

Python library for modeling and inversion in geophysics

Javaseis – http://www.geo-users.org/javaseis/

Seismic processing and storage

Bruges – http://www.agilegeoscience.com/blog/2015/8/5/introducing-bruges

geophysical processing of seismic reflection and well log data

Resistivity.net – http://www.resistivity.net/index.php?11

forum for everything that has to do with resistivity methods in geophysics (but mainly software)

Geocience Analyst – http://www.mirageoscience.com/our-products/software-product/geoscience-analyst

3D visualisation of geoscience data.

import, visualize, annotate, save and distribute 3D geoscientific data and models

dynamic link between 3D views and data tables.

Imports ASCII, ESRI, Geo-referenced images, Geosoft and GOCAD Mining Suitefiles/objects

Geostatistics and QAQC

SGeMS – http://sgems.sourceforge.net/

Solving problems involving spatially related variables.

User-friendly interface, an interactive 3-D visualization, and a wide selection of algorithms

Coreview – http://interdex.software.informer.com/8.0/

QC front end to Interdex drilling software

Real Statistics using Excel – http://www.real-statistics.com/

Real Statistics Resource Pack: an Excel add-in which extends Excel’s standard statistics capabilities

Advanced worksheet functions and data analysis tools for practical statistical analyses.

SAM – http://sam-spatial-analysis-in-macroecology.software.informer.com/

Package of tools for spatial statistical analysis, mainly for applications in Surface Pattern Spatial Analysis.

Analysis ToolPak – http://www.excel-easy.com/data-analysis/analysis-toolpak.html

Excel add-in program that provides data analysis tools for financial, statistical and engineering data analysis.

R – https://www.r-project.org/

software environment for statistical computing and graphics

StatsToDo – https://www.statstodo.com/index.php

Provide a toolkit, statistical programs that are immediately accessible and easy to use.

Pattern Analysis – http://www.passagesoftware.net/features.php

Pattern Analysis, Spatial Statistics

Point pattern, Contiguous data, Scattered data, anisotropy… and more

V2 still being built.

HPGL – http://hpgl.mit-ufa.com/

High Performance Geostatistics Library.

Simple, ordinary, Indicator and local varying mean kriging, CoKriging, Sequential indicator simulations, Corralelogram SIS and Sequential gaussian simulations.

Free Statistical Software – http://statpages.org/javasta2.html

A thorough list of statistical tools and add-ons.

Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental

GGSD – http://www.ggsd.com/ggsd/index.cfm

mixed commercial and open geotechnical and geoenvironmental software.

GIS

Qgis – http://www.qgis.org/en/site/

Full featured GIS.

Numerous vector, raster, and database formats and functionalities

Excellent online support and training.

Internet oriented (WMS, etc)

Saga – http://www.saga-gis.org/en/index.html

Easy and effective implementation of spatial algorithms

Easy user interface with many visualisation options

uDIG – http://udig.refractions.net/

Full GIS

Standalone but Internet oriented (WMS, etc)

GRASS – http://grass.osgeo.org/

Full GIS

Geospatial data management and analysis,

image processing, graphics and maps production,

spatial modeling, and visualization.

Dapple – http://dapple.geosoft.com/ – unfortuantely going extinct.

View online data from internal DAP servers and known Web server

gvSIG http://www.gvsig.com/en/

Desktop, vector and raster files, databases and remote services.

Good support and training options

ARC Reader – http://www.esri.com/software/arcgis/arcreader

ESRIs free viewer

MapInfo Proviewer – http://www.pbinsight.com/support/product-downloads/for/mapinfo-proviewer

Pitney Bowes free data viewer

GEOmap – https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/GEOmap/index.html

Routines for making Map Projections (forward and inverse), Topographic Maps, Perspective plots, Geological Maps, geological map symbols, geological databases, interactive plotting

List from Spatial News – http://spatialnews.geocomm.com/features/viewers2002/

16 commercial and open GIS packages and readers

EarthPoint – http://www.earthpoint.us/

Bring grids into Google Earth – DMS, DD, UTM/UPS, MGRS

autoscales down to 10m

Batch import/convert excel into Google Earth

Area, perimeter and centroid on Google Earth Polygons

GeoMesa – http://www.geomesa.org/

spatial – temporal query of GIS data.

ER Viewer – http://download.intergraph.com/downloads/erdas-er-viewer-2014-v14.01

Viewing software from ER Mapper

TNTatlas – http://www.microimages.com/products/tntatlas/index.htm

publish and distribute your maps and geospatial data

ILWIS – http://52north.org/about/52north

Integrated Land and Water Information System

GIS with some strong 3D capabilities (not just DEM)

data animation and stereoscopy tool

GPS

GPS Utility – http://www.gpsu.co.uk/

Manage, manipulate and map your GPS information

GPSbabel – http://www.gpsbabel.org/

converts waypoints, tracks, and routes between popular GPS receivers and programs like Google Earth or Basecamp

Bing – https://www.bing.com/maps/

Global interactive map. roads, satellite info

Vector mapping capability if logged in

Google Earth – http://www.google.com/earth/download/gep/agree.html

Global interactive base data

native .KML vector data capability.

Basecamp – http://www.garmin.com/en-US/shop/downloads/basecamp

Garmin software to map, plan, geotag and share data.

DNRGPS – http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/mis/gis/DNRGPS/DNRGPS.html

transfer data between Garmin handheld GPS receivers and GIS software.

works with ArcGIS 10.x, Google Earth, Most Garmin GPSs, and other NMEA output GPSs

G-Raster – http://moagu.com/?page_id=155

creates raster Custom Maps for your Garmin GPS receiver.

easily convert KMZ overlay files calibrated in Google Earth, chopping them up into smaller tiles fully compatible with Garmin units

Graphics

Blender – https://www.blender.org/

full function 3D rendering.

Monsterous learning curve. Fabulous results.

GIMP – http://www.gimp.org/

An expert quality photo retouching program, an online batch processing system, a mass production image renderer, an image format converter, etc.

Well supported. Good training and tutorial

Inkscpe – https://inkscape.org/en/

Full capability Vector and raster graphics editor

Well supported. Good training and tutorial

OCAL – https://openclipart.org/

Open clip art… I don’t know why either.

Scibus – http://www.scribus.net/

Open Desktop Publishing.

Hugin – http://hugin.sourceforge.net/

Image stitching software

Dia – https://wiki.gnome.org/action/show/Apps/Dia?action=show&redirect=Dia

special objects to help draw entity relationship diagrams, UML diagrams, flowcharts, network diagrams, and many other diagrams.

AutoTrace – http://autotrace.sourceforge.net/

Convert raster images to vectors

HSE

NIOSH site search – http://search.cdc.gov/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&affiliate=cdc-main&sitelimit=www.cdc.gov%2Fniosh+|+blogs.cdc.gov%2Fniosh-science-blog&query=software

Mining HSE software from NIOSH

Modelling and Mining

Recmin – http://recmin.com/WP/ – see note below for english

3D geological modeling work, block modelling, grade estimation, of mineral resources and reserves, mine surveying, mine design surface and groundwater.

for english: http://recmin.com/WP/?lang=en

English help: http://recmin.com/WP/?page_id=130&lang=en

Geoblock – http://geoblock.sourceforge.net/

integrated software for 2D/3D modeling, computational geometry and visualization of spatial datasets.

Also survey, geology and mining modeling, ore reserve estimations

Poor support and training.

ParaViewGeo – http://paraviewgeo.objectivity.ca/

Mine design, planning and scheduling

Commercial software – http://www.3d-geology.de/software/geology_and_mining/

A list of commercial packages.

EduMine Mining tools – http://www.edumine.com/tools/applications/mining/

Various useful geology tools.

MO2Geo – http://www.mo2geo.org/

multidimensional, modular, open source, object-oriented geological modelling tool

Unknown project status??

BRL-CAD – http://brlcad.org/

solid modeling and design system that includes interactive geometry editing

VMine – http://www.vmine.net/vmine/index.asp – BETA

Mine planning and modelling

follow the website for progress

Download is by participation – returning feedback on its performance and errors

Petrology

List from NAGT – http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/petrology/plot_programs.html

Project Management and risk

ProjectLibre – http://www.projectlibre.org/

open source alternative of Microsoft Project.

GanttProject – http://www.ganttproject.biz/

open source alternative of Microsoft Project.

Edumine tools – http://www.edumine.com/tools/applications/management/

Various useful management tools

SimpleRisk – http://www.simplerisk.org/

Enterprise risk management

risk, mitigation, reports – graphical options

demo login is useful.

Freemind – http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

mind-mapping software in Java.

making a move as a high productivity tool.

Calligra Plan – https://www.calligra.org/plan/

Project management application intended for managing moderately large projects with multiple resources

Project Open – http://www.project-open.com/

keeps track of project plans, project progress, budgets, costs, risks, milestones

supporting the administrative and reporting processes in complex PMO environments

allows to track time sheets related to both projects and support services

ProjectForge – http://www.projectforge.org/

project management and financial and adminstrative controlling platform for teams

multi-lingual.

Smartphone (android) support app.

Source http://tinyurl.com/nubv2f9

Bob Mathias
8 years ago

This was exactly the reason I started this forum.

Maya Rothman
8 years ago
Maya Rothman 8 years ago

Recmin is an open software to plan mining operations, and help in the threee-dimensional evaluation of mineral reserves. It is quite powrful and easy to use. http://recmin.com/WP/?lang=en

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

ParaViewGeo? (http://paraviewgeo.objectivity.ca/) - mine design, planning and scheduling.

Bob Mathias
8 years ago
Bob Mathias 8 years ago

I have used paraview briefly before, it would be interesting to know if it works for you. I do know another individual who tried using blender to design 3D ore models and mine workings. I am not sure if he gave up on that, but Blender is definitely an excellent 3d design tool. I think the video functionality of that would be interesting for a mine planning application http://www.blender.org

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Using Blender for mine planning would be a bit like the way I drove Autocad out of dBase to make it into a sort of a GIS. Painful and clunky compared with the alternatives. Of course, if it's your dime, the price is dead right.

Bob Mathias
8 years ago
Bob Mathias 8 years ago

Blender is a 3D design program used primarily for video game design. It has many 3d graphics and animation applications and has plugins that make it compatible with cad software. I believe my colleague was trying to use it to better design an ore shell of a vms deposit. There are allot of graphics you can make with it that would be allot more artistic then what you can do in Vulcan or datamine however it isn't designed for manipulating data, so you would need to import graphical data from other software.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Thanks for your comments. I meant to inquire about project management software. For planning, budgeting, tasking, resource management, keeping track of activities, critical route, equipment maintenance, raw material managing, spare part tracking, etc. I've seen some people use versions of this software which is specialized for mining operations. Apart from that, I wonder if any of you know about freeware to draw floating bar diagrams such as those produced with the Grapher software. An example of the type of drawing is included on the following link.

Boundaries of each individual bar can be "fed" from a spreadsheet file. For years, I have tried to produce that type of drawings using other software. Unsuccessfully.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

For box plots, try this excel statistics add-on: http://www.real-statistics.com/descriptive-statistics/box-plots/ or search "max min bar chart" in excel. Most of these use a sneaky work-arouund to get the result you're after. A clear description is here: http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/an-easy-technique-for-creating-a-floating-column-chart-in-excel/

I'm not aware of a specific OS mining project management package, but either ProjectLibre or GanttProject (for planning and resource allocation) with ProjectOpen (for operations and monitoring) could come close. Links found here: https://babelflysch.wordpress.com/software/#t

Some other ERP and inventory management options are here: https://babelflysch.wordpress.com/software/#q. 

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

I have QGis on my Amazon Androidish tablet, but so far haven't got it working; I have only just confirmed that the windows version will do all that I want it to do. Re sectioning, what I really want for sectioning in ArcGis or QGis is more of an access plotting module. Have a database of sections, interrogate my borehole database and DEM to make a number of shape files projected in section space. Then I just bring the files into my GIS and up pops a section. Now, if I could then draw to my heart's content all the interp I want in section space, with an attribute identifying the section I am drawing on, then my access app could import that shapefile, project it to 3d coordinates and plot it on sections that cross that one, or send it to a modeller for import into his 3d package.

JohnnyD
8 years ago

About Blender
* design package, used for drawing 3d objects in computer games and VR, also used by designers of assorted nicknacks for 3d printing see http://www.shapeways.com for examples.

As I said, a bit like using a cad package for geology, I couldn't easily make it import a whole lot of point, line, polygon and polyform x,y,z files and put things in place, then draw. Frankly, I am happy with plan and section, I just want the zoom, interrogate and turn on and off that I get with a GIS

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Thanks a lot for the very interesting discussion. Do someone know about a free software for variogram calculations (to define kriging parameters)?

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

For (semi) variography, try this link (I haven't used it though) http://www.passagesoftware.net/features.php

Helena Russell
8 years ago
Helena Russell 8 years ago

You might also want to look at one called VMINE at http://www.vmine.net/vmine/index.asp

That is available for free as well. Maybe also something to add to your website.
I've used Paraview before and found it a bit complicated to start with. But is quite a powerful viewer. Haven't used it for processing data. Also, I couldn't figure out how to import drilling data.
Blender I've used years ago, but not for mining related work. Like John said, it is a very powerful design package focussed on the games and animation industry. It seems very capable to do very cool things. However, I struggled on getting started with it, but at the time I had no experience with 3D CAD.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Have you ever looked at RecMin (modelling software)? link is here: http://recmin.com/WP/?lang=en.

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

RecMin/QGis/Grass/SGeMS

Bob Mathias
8 years ago
Bob Mathias 8 years ago

Now anything in Geophysics softwares, like gravity, magnetic, resistivity, Ip etc?

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

I know this may seem a bit redundant as we all know how to use google, but Wikipedia has a list of open source geology software.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_free_geology_software and geophysics software as well https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_free_geophysics_software

There is also a growing trend of people using python to build their own geoscience tools as outlined briefly in this article

https://steppe.org/python-a-fundamental-tool-in-the-geoscientists-toolbox/

Bob Mathias
8 years ago
Bob Mathias 8 years ago

Any suggestion on a free 3D package for wire framing that can be downloaded.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

You might want to check the RecMin software mentioned here a few times. There is a link to the english version as well. Otherwise as John has mentioned, Blender is a free 3D CAD type package. Cheers.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

For statistical analysis you'll find 'R' has most of the tools you will ever need including those for geostatistics - steep learning curve but extremely powerful with many packages available. The other free tool for geostatistical modelling ins SGEMS.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

About free/open software applied to geology, we should start with SO like Linux; office software LibreOffice; for statistical analysis: R; for GIS: Qgis, GVsig, Grass. I did not search about modelling and resources calculation. Important thing is that software are multi-platform.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

They tell me it good for resource estimation. If the project develops, you can justify buying an advanced software. It is my plan to try Rec Min

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

RecMin is a fine plataform to integrate all data from survey, DH and assist on mine planning, but for estimate resources you will need a free geostatistical toll like SGeMS.

JohnnyD
8 years ago
JohnnyD 8 years ago

From what I have seen and done in RecMin, your 3D oportunities are pretty good.

However, one of the problems that I noticed its that given that Recmin is all made with open language files, you will have some trouble when trying to export 3D results towards a commercial GIS, like ArcGIS, HOWEVER, trans-portability to other mining software has been guaranteed by its creators.

I have worked previously with Datamine and Vulcan, but at the moment I have no valid licenses from them, nor I am updated on their latest versions of the software to test those functionalities, but in the free course that was given from the RecMin facilitators, they explained how to export your results to other mining software. Given this, I really endorse at least some beta testing of RecMin, since it has a very powerful engine for geological modeling, either open pit or underground.

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Wikipedia shows these, but I am not using geophysic datasets at the moment, so cannot give you any input on them. My experience with geophysical software was with Geosoft Oasis Montaj, for gammaespectrometry and magnetic surveys of phosphate rock. Hope it helps.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_free_geophysics_software

Unfortunately, the Wikepedia file documents little else than software to process seismic data. There is much more to geophysics than seismic!

For those of you whoe are willing to experiment or that may have access to Goeosoft Oasis Montaj, the USGS developed geopdf's that run under geosoft Oasis Montaj. Those files, alongside other geophysical apps are int this website:

http://crustal.usgs.gov/geophysics/software.html

(unknown)
8 years ago
(unknown) 8 years ago

Has anyone mentioned GRASS? https://grass.osgeo.org/
GRASS GIS is a free Geographic Information System (GIS) software used for geospatial data management and analysis, image processing, graphics/maps .

Victor Bergman
8 years ago
Victor Bergman 8 years ago

GRASS is included in my QGIS package, what does it do that QGIS doesn't.

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