Mining & Resources · head to head
IHS Markit Petra vs Whittle
IHS Markit Petra
Mining & Resources
Geological interpretation and mapping software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Whittle
Mining & Resources
Strategic open pit mine optimization software
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: 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).; Whittle the Internet Archive's capture of Dassault Systemes' GEOVIA Whittle page on 20 January 2021 named it as one of seven distinct GEOVIA mining products (alongside Surpac, GEMS, Minex, MineSched, PCBC, InSite), sold via a 'How to buy' contact process with no price figure published.
- They diverge on capability: IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis, Whittle covers Pit optimization.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which IHS Markit Petra and Whittle actually diverge.
| Attribute | IHS Markit Petra | Whittle |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1959 | 1981 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Mining & Resources).
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 IHS Markit Petra
- Well log analysis
- Cross-section creation
- Contour mapping
- Formation tops
- Volumetric calculations
- Kingdom
- ArcGIS
- Petrel
Only in Whittle
- Pit optimization
- NPV maximization
- Cutoff grade analysis
- Pushback design
- Economic modeling
- Surpac
- MineSched
- PCBC
Both cover
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
IHS Markit Petra
- Well log interpretationnot Whittle
- Geological mappingnot Whittle
- Exploration analysisnot Whittle
- Formation evaluationnot Whittle
- Resource assessmentnot Whittle
Whittle
- Pit optimizationnot IHS Markit Petra
- Strategic planningnot IHS Markit Petra
- Feasibility studiesnot IHS Markit Petra
- Economic analysisnot IHS Markit Petra
- Scenario comparisonnot IHS Markit Petra
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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).
Whittle
- The Internet Archive's capture of Dassault Systemes' GEOVIA Whittle page on 20 January 2021 named it as one of seven distinct GEOVIA mining products (alongside Surpac, GEMS, Minex, MineSched, PCBC, InSite), sold via a 'How to buy' contact process with no price figure published.
Pricing, plan by plan
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
Whittle
On request- Whittle Standard$15000/year
- Pit optimization
- Economic analysis
- Multiple scenarios
- Whittle Enterprise$25000/year
- Advanced optimization
- Scheduling integration
- NPV maximization
Which should you pick?
Choose IHS Markit Petra if
- You need well log analysis.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want cross-section creation.
Choose Whittle if
- You need pit optimization.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want npv maximization.
Questions people ask
- Is IHS Markit Petra or Whittle better?
- Neither clearly leads. IHS Markit Petra starts at On request and Whittle at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, IHS Markit Petra or Whittle?
- IHS Markit Petra starts at On request and Whittle at On request.
- Does IHS Markit Petra or Whittle run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is IHS Markit Petra best used for?
- IHS Markit Petra is most often used for well log interpretation, geological mapping, exploration analysis, formation evaluation. Of those, well log interpretation and geological mapping are not what Whittle is typically brought in for.
- What can IHS Markit Petra do that Whittle cannot?
- IHS Markit Petra covers Well log analysis, Cross-section creation, Contour mapping, Formation tops. Whittle covers Pit optimization, NPV maximization, Cutoff grade analysis, Pushback design. Both handle Windows support.