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Mining · head to head

Carlson Mining vs IHS Markit Petra

Carlson Mining logo

Carlson Mining

Mining

Mining and surveying software solution

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IHS Markit Petra logo

IHS Markit Petra

Mining

Geological interpretation and mapping software

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Carlson Mining no pricing published on primary domain; IHS Markit Petra iHS Markit Petra's product page (ihsmarkit.com/products/petra.html) now redirects live to spglobal.com, confirming IHS Markit's merger into S&P Global means the Petra product line is sold under S&P Global rather than as an independent IHS Markit product (redirect observed 19 August 2026).
  • They diverge on capability: Carlson Mining covers Pit design, IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Carlson Mining and IHS Markit Petra actually diverge.

Attributes where Carlson Mining and IHS Markit Petra differ
AttributeCarlson MiningIHS Markit Petra
Founded19831959

Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Carlson Mining

  • Pit design
  • Grade control
  • Production planning
  • Survey integration
  • Mapping
  • AutoCAD
  • GPS
  • GNSS systems

Only in IHS Markit Petra

  • Well log analysis
  • Cross-section creation
  • Contour mapping
  • Formation tops
  • Volumetric calculations
  • Kingdom
  • Petrel
  • Spotfire

Both cover

  • ArcGIS
  • Windows support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Carlson Mining

  • Pit designnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Grade controlnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Mine planningnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Surveyingnot IHS Markit Petra
  • Mappingnot IHS Markit Petra

IHS Markit Petra

  • Well log interpretationnot Carlson Mining
  • Geological mappingnot Carlson Mining
  • Exploration analysisnot Carlson Mining
  • Formation evaluationnot Carlson Mining
  • Resource assessmentnot Carlson Mining

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Carlson Mining

  • No pricing published on primary domain
  • No pricing page accessible via /pricing or /plans
  • Vendor contact required to obtain cost information

IHS Markit Petra

  • IHS Markit Petra's product page (ihsmarkit.com/products/petra.html) now redirects live to spglobal.com, confirming IHS Markit's merger into S&P Global means the Petra product line is sold under S&P Global rather than as an independent IHS Markit product (redirect observed 19 August 2026).

Pricing, plan by plan

Carlson Mining

On request
  • Carlson Mining Standard$7000/year
    • Mining design
    • Pit design
    • Grade control
  • Carlson Mining Professional$15000/year
    • Advanced mine planning
    • Production scheduling
    • Equipment management

IHS Markit Petra

On request
  • Petra Standard$8000/year
    • Well log analysis
    • Cross-sections
    • Contour mapping
  • Petra Professional$15000/year
    • 3D visualization
    • Advanced mapping
    • Volumetric analysis

Which should you pick?

Choose Carlson Mining if

  • You need pit design.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want grade control.
Carlson Mining review

Choose IHS Markit Petra if

  • You need well log analysis.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want cross-section creation.
IHS Markit Petra review

Questions people ask

Is Carlson Mining or IHS Markit Petra better?
Neither clearly leads. Carlson Mining starts at On request and IHS Markit Petra at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Carlson Mining or IHS Markit Petra?
Carlson Mining starts at On request and IHS Markit Petra at On request.
Does Carlson Mining or IHS Markit Petra run on more platforms?
Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
What is Carlson Mining best used for?
Carlson Mining is most often used for pit design, grade control, mine planning, surveying. Of those, pit design and grade control are not what IHS Markit Petra is typically brought in for.
What can Carlson Mining do that IHS Markit Petra cannot?
Carlson Mining covers Pit design, Grade control, Production planning, Survey integration. IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis, Cross-section creation, Contour mapping, Formation tops. Both handle ArcGIS, Windows support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Carlson Mining: How much does Carlson Software cost?

Carlson Software does not publish pricing. No pricing page is available on carlsonsw.com. Contact the vendor directly for quotes and licensing terms.

Source
Carlson Mining: What is Carlson Software's pricing model?

Carlson Software's pricing model is not published online. The vendor appears to use a custom quote or contact-sales model. Reach out to their sales team to discuss your specific project needs.

Source
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