Softwr

Mining & Resources · head to head

Micromine vs PCBC

Micromine logo

Micromine

Mining & Resources

Exploration and mine design software solution

From
On request
Rated
-
PCBC logo

PCBC

Mining & Resources

Pit optimisation and scheduling software

From
On request
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Micromine pricing is not published; sold by quote through a sales process; PCBC dassault Systemes GEOVIA PCBC has no published commercial pricing and is sold via direct contact, with a separate Academic License Program as the only named alternative tier
  • They diverge on capability: Micromine covers Data management, PCBC covers Pit optimization.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Micromine and PCBC actually diverge.

Attributes where Micromine and PCBC differ
AttributeMicrominePCBC
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWebWindows
Founded19861981

Identical on both: starting price (On request), free tier (No), 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 Micromine

  • Data management
  • Geological modeling
  • Resource estimation
  • Mine design
  • Scheduling
  • Leapfrog
  • AutoCAD
  • ArcGIS

Only in PCBC

  • Pit optimization
  • Pushback scheduling
  • Cutoff grade analysis
  • NPV maximization
  • Sensitivity analysis
  • Surpac
  • Whittle
  • MineSched

Both cover

  • Vulcan
  • Windows support

What people use each for

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

Micromine

  • Geological exploration and modellingnot PCBC
  • Resource estimation and geostatisticsnot PCBC
  • Mine design and surveyingnot PCBC
  • Mine planning and schedulingnot PCBC
  • Fleet management and mine operationsnot PCBC

PCBC

  • Pit optimizationnot Micromine
  • Pushback designnot Micromine
  • Cutoff optimizationnot Micromine
  • Economic analysisnot Micromine

Where each one falls short

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

Micromine

  • Pricing is not published; sold by quote through a sales process

PCBC

  • Dassault Systemes GEOVIA PCBC has no published commercial pricing and is sold via direct contact, with a separate Academic License Program as the only named alternative tier

Pricing, plan by plan

Micromine

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Micromine review.

PCBC

On request
  • PCBC Standard$12000/year
    • Pit optimization
    • Pushback design
    • Economic analysis

Which should you pick?

Choose Micromine if

  • You need data management.
  • You also want geological modeling.

Choose PCBC if

  • You need pit optimization.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want pushback scheduling.

Questions people ask

Is Micromine or PCBC better?
Neither clearly leads. Micromine starts at On request and PCBC at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Micromine or PCBC?
Micromine starts at On request and PCBC at On request.
Does Micromine or PCBC run on more platforms?
Micromine runs on Web. PCBC runs on Windows.
What is Micromine best used for?
Micromine is most often used for geological exploration and modelling, resource estimation and geostatistics, mine design and surveying, mine planning and scheduling. Of those, geological exploration and modelling and resource estimation and geostatistics are not what PCBC is typically brought in for.
What can Micromine do that PCBC cannot?
Micromine covers Data management, Geological modeling, Resource estimation, Mine design. PCBC covers Pit optimization, Pushback scheduling, Cutoff grade analysis, NPV maximization. Both handle Vulcan, Windows support.

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