Resource estimates are the multi-million-dollar cornerstone of mining projects, driving decisions from early phase project evaluation to daily mine operations. Yet, an uncomfortable truth persists: they are often disconnected from the geology that defines them.
For decades, the software used to create them has been challenging to learn and use, and the outputs from hours of painstaking work stored insecurely and without an audit trail on local and network drives. Outdated and siloed systems are slowing progress, costing untold fortunes in inefficiencies, and hindering the industry’s ability to adapt to future demands.
But beyond the frustrating daily experience for the geoscientists who have to use these tools, a larger question is hidden in plain sight: Are the workflows being used above the surface impacting our ability to truly and deeply understand what’s below the surface?
Addressing complexity in an uncertain operating environment
The pressure on the mining industry is growing – and coming from all sides. Geopolitical upheaval, increased production demands, structural operating cost increases, compliance and regulatory costs, and the high expectations of shareholders seeking short-term returns in a long-term industry makes for an incredibly challenging operating landscape.
To resolve this complexity and remain competitive, mining organisations need access to foundational tools that will enable them to be agile and resilient in the face of rapid, unpredictable change. As deposits become more complex and project timelines shorten, geoprofessionals need workflows that integrate geoscience expertise with modern technology more than ever before.
And perhaps no other area in the operation is this capability needed as much as in the resource estimate – the multi-million-dollar piece of the puzzle underpinning all.
Despite the huge potential for resource risk – and the ripple effect of mistakes across the operation and bottom line – innovation in the geosciences has lagged in comparison to other areas of mining operations such as truck and drill automation.
A once in a generation opportunity, according to industry leaders
In 2025, it’s not only technology providers driving these conversations and asking, “what if?”
It’s a directive coming from industry leaders.
In April of 2025, Adriatic Metals CEO, Laura Tyler, delivered a keynote address at the AusIMM Underground Operators Conference in Adelaide, South Australia, saying that “The technological opportunity today that we have ahead of us is probably a once in a generation opportunity.”
“[But] we are going to have to be a little bit brave to meet the challenges ahead of us.”
“To change ways of working and to embrace new technologies requires a new way of thinking to grasp the opportunity. Some of the most impactful innovations arose by challenging the status quo and thinking outside conventional boundaries.”
However, it doesn’t mean innovation for innovation’s sake. For leaders, it all comes back to risk management, in particular, resource risk management.
Ahead of her presentation at this year’s AusIMM Mineral Resource Estimation Conference, Arja Jewbali, Head of Global Resource Management at Newmont Corporation, wrote “Translating resource uncertainty into actionable risks requires a fundamental shift in how organisations do technical work, which means rethinking business processes and adopting new ways of doing things.”
“Resource risk management (must) become a core part of cross departmental decision-making and a standard practice within organisations.”
Adaptability is key
While industry leaders underscore the importance of being brave and forward-thinking, according to Seequent CEO, Graham Grant, the foundation of this shift lies in adaptability—both in mindset and in the tools used to support decision-making.
In a recent interview with The Investing News Network, Graham spoke to removing the roadblocks that stand in the way of the mining industry being able to fully embrace innovation.
“As an executive, the one thing you have to do is build a resilient and adaptable organization that can see its way through (rapid and unexpected) changes.”
“Adaptability is the key, and this is what we can bring to a mining company — a flexible, responsive technology framework that enables you to flex your organization fast, revisit scenarios and recalculate.”
And it is groundbreaking new technology, such as Seequent’s recently unveiled Seequent Evo platform, that will become indispensable in enabling resilience in the face of unpredictability.
A platform enabling adaptability
To bring this adaptability to life, Seequent Evo provides the technological foundation required for the current and future challenges surrounding resource estimation.
Officially launched at this year’s PDAC, Seequent Evo is a groundbreaking new platform specifically designed to address geoscience data challenges and equip professionals with the cutting-edge compute capabilities needed in an uncertain future.
Underpinned by design principles of adaptability and flexibility, Seequent Evo will enable organisations to become agile and resilient, and rapidly reconfigure their operations to unlock value.
But how does it work?
At the core of Seequent Evo is advanced architecture designed to centralize data, enhance collaboration, and streamline workflows. But what will really change the game is the enablement of cloud computing, particularly for foundational mining assets like the resource estimate.
Imagine the implications of closing the gap between planned and recovered ore, in a fraction of the time, at a fraction of the cost, meanwhile eliminating risks tied to manual data handling?
With Seequent Evo’s cloud computing capabilities, mining executives will shortly be able to turn this vision into reality.
By combining estimation expertise with cloud solutions, the mining industry can adapt to shifting demands and volatile markets – and finally bridge the all-important gap between potential and performance.
For the first time, resource geologists will be able access to advanced geostatistical methods, like conditional simulation, that quantify uncertainty – at pace, and at scale.
For your operation, this means the full power of geostatistics can be unleashed, creating a more efficient, data-driven and responsive approach to resource estimation – where your geologists can better understand the underground than ever before.
Join the Conversation at MREC 2025
We invite you to join us at this year’s Mineral Resource Estimation Conference (MREC) to explore how how our connected solutions and cloud capabilities are transforming estimation practices. Visit us at Booth 35 to join the conversation around the future of estimation and the practical innovations shaping the mining industry.