Software · head to head
Minemax vs PCBC
Minemax
Software
Integrated mining software for geological and operational excellence
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Minemax minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com; Minemax products are now sold within the Datamine planning range; 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: Minemax covers Geological modeling, PCBC covers Pushback scheduling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Minemax and PCBC actually diverge.
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), platforms (Windows), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Minemax
- Geological modeling
- Mine design
- Resource estimation
- Production scheduling
- Datamine
- Leapfrog
- SAP
Only in PCBC
- Pushback scheduling
- Cutoff grade analysis
- NPV maximization
- Sensitivity analysis
- Whittle
- MineSched
Both cover
- Pit optimization
- Vulcan
- Surpac
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Minemax
- Strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisationnot PCBC
- Life of mine planning to maximise net present valuenot PCBC
- Operational short interval mine schedulingnot PCBC
PCBC
- Pit optimizationnot Minemax
- Pushback designnot Minemax
- Cutoff optimizationnot Minemax
- Economic analysisnot Minemax
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Minemax
- minemax.com/products returns a 301 redirect to dataminesoftware.com; Minemax products are now sold within the Datamine planning range
- No pricing is published for any Minemax product; licences are obtained by contacting the Datamine sales team
- Products are sold as role based Planning Bundles rather than individual licences, with the claimed saving of up to 33 percent measured against standalone licence cost
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
Minemax
On request- Minemax Standard$13000/year
- Geological modeling
- Mine design
- Resource estimation
- Minemax Premium$23000/year
- Advanced optimization
- Production scheduling
- Fleet management
PCBC
On request- PCBC Standard$12000/year
- Pit optimization
- Pushback design
- Economic analysis
Which should you pick?
Choose Minemax if
- You need geological modeling.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want mine design.
Choose PCBC if
- You need pushback scheduling.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want cutoff grade analysis.
Questions people ask
- Is Minemax or PCBC better?
- Neither clearly leads. Minemax 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, Minemax or PCBC?
- Minemax starts at On request and PCBC at On request.
- Does Minemax or PCBC run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Minemax best used for?
- Minemax is most often used for strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisation, life of mine planning to maximise net present value, operational short interval mine scheduling. Of those, strategic open pit and underground mine schedule optimisation and life of mine planning to maximise net present value are not what PCBC is typically brought in for.
- What can Minemax do that PCBC cannot?
- Minemax covers Geological modeling, Mine design, Resource estimation, Production scheduling. PCBC covers Pushback scheduling, Cutoff grade analysis, NPV maximization, Sensitivity analysis. Both handle Pit optimization, Vulcan, Surpac, Windows support.