Software · head to head
Promine vs Vulcan Geological Modelling

Promine
Software
Complete mining software suite built on AutoCAD
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -

Vulcan Geological Modelling
Software
Industry-leading geological modelling for mining
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Promine requires AutoCAD or BricsCAD license for use, adding to total cost of ownership; Vulcan Geological Modelling user interface is dated compared to modern mining software
- They diverge on capability: Promine covers AutoCAD integration, Vulcan Geological Modelling covers Implicit modeling.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Promine and Vulcan Geological Modelling actually diverge.
| Attribute | Promine | Vulcan Geological Modelling |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1993 | 1981 |
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 Promine
- AutoCAD integration
- Drill hole management
- Block modeling
- Underground planning
- Ventilation design
- AutoCAD
Only in Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Implicit modeling
- Explicit modeling
- Kriging estimation
- Simulation
- Variogram analysis
- Vulcan Mine Planning
Both cover
- Leapfrog
- Surpac
- Excel
- Database systems
- Windows support
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Promine
- Mine designnot Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Geological modeling
- Underground planningnot Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Ventilation analysisnot Vulcan Geological Modelling
Vulcan Geological Modelling
- Resource estimationnot Promine
- Geological modeling
- Grade controlnot Promine
- Reporting compliancenot Promine
Both are used for geological modeling, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Promine
- Requires AutoCAD or BricsCAD license for use, adding to total cost of ownership
- Limited standalone capability compared to all-in-one mining software
Vulcan Geological Modelling
- User interface is dated compared to modern mining software
- Requires extensive training and certification to use effectively due to software complexity
- High-performance hardware requirements increase capital expenditure for infrastructure
- Solids operations take an extremely long time to compute, limiting responsiveness
- Premium pricing makes the software unaffordable for small and mid-sized mining companies
Pricing, plan by plan
Promine
On request- Promine Standard$3500/year
- Drill hole management
- Block modeling
- Geological modeling
- Promine Professional$6000/year
- All Standard features
- Underground planning
- Ventilation analysis
- Enterprise$15000/year
- All modules included
- Unlimited users
- Priority support
Vulcan Geological Modelling
On request- Vulcan GM Standard$7500/year
- Drill hole management
- Explicit modeling
- Grade estimation
- Vulcan GM Advanced$12000/year
- All Standard features
- Implicit modeling
- Conditional simulation
- Vulcan GM Enterprise$22000/year
- All modules
- Multi-site license
- Priority support
Which should you pick?
Choose Promine if
- You need autocad integration.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want drill hole management.
Choose Vulcan Geological Modelling if
- You need implicit modeling.
- You work on Windows.
- You also want explicit modeling.
Questions people ask
- Is Promine or Vulcan Geological Modelling better?
- Neither clearly leads. Promine starts at On request and Vulcan Geological Modelling at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Promine or Vulcan Geological Modelling?
- Promine starts at On request and Vulcan Geological Modelling at On request.
- Does Promine or Vulcan Geological Modelling run on more platforms?
- Both run on Windows, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Promine best used for?
- Promine is most often used for mine design, geological modeling, underground planning, ventilation analysis. Of those, mine design and underground planning are not what Vulcan Geological Modelling is typically brought in for.
- What can Promine do that Vulcan Geological Modelling cannot?
- Promine covers AutoCAD integration, Drill hole management, Block modeling, Underground planning. Vulcan Geological Modelling covers Implicit modeling, Explicit modeling, Kriging estimation, Simulation. Both handle Leapfrog, Surpac, Excel, Database systems.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Promine: What CAD platforms does Promine support?
Promine is available as a plugin for AutoCAD and BricsCAD. It is supported on AutoCAD, AutoCAD Civil3D, and BricsCAD versions 2014 through the newest released versions.
SourceVulcan Geological Modelling: What is Vulcan?
Vulcan is Maptek's 3D geological modeling and mine planning software used for exploration, geological modeling, resource estimation, mine design, and production planning. More than 19,000 licenses are used globally across the mining industry.
SourcePromine: What file formats can Promine import?
Promine is compatible with files in .dxf, .dm, .txt and .csv formats, allowing integration with drawings from other mining software.
SourceVulcan Geological Modelling: What mining tasks can Vulcan perform?
Vulcan handles geological modeling, drillhole data management, block modeling, resource estimation, pit optimization, mine design, grade control, geotechnical analysis, scheduling, geostatistics, and rehabilitation planning.
SourceVulcan Geological Modelling: What training does Maptek provide for Vulcan?
Maptek provides comprehensive training programs, documentation, and workshops for Vulcan users. However, the tutorials and workshops are limited and cover only basic functionalities, making advanced use of the software difficult without extensive hands-on experience.
SourceVulcan Geological Modelling: What are the system requirements for Vulcan?
Vulcan requires a high-performance computer system with significant processing power and RAM to run effectively, which may necessitate additional hardware investment for smaller operations.
SourceVulcan Geological Modelling: Is Vulcan difficult to learn?
Yes. Vulcan has complex components requiring extensive training to use effectively. Tutorials and workshops are limited and cover only basic functionalities, making the learning curve steep for new users.
SourceRelated pages
More on Vulcan Geological Modelling
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