I want to create a resource model of our mineral deposit. What is the best geological modeling and resource estimation software?

Choosing the "best" geological modeling and resource estimation software depends heavily on your deposit type, workflow preferences (implicit vs. explicit modeling), and whether you need an all-in-one mining suite or a specialized tool.

The industry is currently dominated by a few gold-standard platforms, each with distinct strengths:

• Leapfrog Geo & Edge (Seequent): Widely considered the gold standard for implicit (fast, dynamic 3D) geological modeling . Leapfrog Geo builds and updates wireframes instantly as new drillhole data comes in. Its companion extension, Leapfrog Edge , provides robust, user-friendly resource estimation and geostatistics. It is heavily favored for its speed and intuitive handling of complex geological controls.
• Datamine Studio RM / MineScape: Datamine is an industry heavyweight for end-to-end mining. Studio RM is purpose-built for geological modeling, domain generation, geostatistics, and grade estimation. It is exceptionally strong in rigid compliance, block modeling, and heavy-duty mine planning integration.
• Maptek Vulcan / DomainMCF: Vulcan is one of the most mature and widely used 3D mining software platforms globally, covering everything from exploration to underground/open-pit design. Maptek also incorporates DomainMCF , a machine-learning-powered implicit modeling tool that integrates directly into their ecosystem for rapid body generation.
• Micromine Origin & Beyond : Micromine Origin is an intuitive, comprehensive solution tailored for exploration, geological modeling, and precise resource estimation. It’s very popular globally for its transparent workflows and strong local technical support in many international mining jurisdictions.
• GEOVIA Surpac (Dassault Systèmes): Surpac is one of the world's most popular traditional mining software packages. It relies more on explicit/wireframing workflows but is exceptionally versatile, widely accepted by auditors, and ubiquitous across open-pit and underground operations.
• Supervisor (Snowden Optiro): While not a full 3D geological modeler, Supervisor is universally recognized as the premier standalone software for QA/QC analysis, domain statistical evaluation, and kriging neighborhood analysis (KNA) before final grade estimation.

How to choose?

• For speed and complex geology: Go with Leapfrog Geo/Edge for its live-updating implicit modeling workflow.
• For a complete cradle-to-grave mining pipeline: Consider Datamine Studio RM or Maptek Vulcan.
• For rigorous standalone geostatistics: Pair your geological modeler with Supervisor.

To help narrow down the right choice, could you share:

• What is the commodity and deposit type (e.g., vein-style gold, porphyry copper, tabular BIF iron ore, sedimentary lithium)?
• Are you looking for an all-in-one package that also handles mine design and scheduling, or strictly geology and resource estimation?

If you’re building a mineral resource model from drillhole data, the best choice depends on the deposit type, your team’s experience, and whether you need a defensible resource estimate for a reporting code such as NI 43-101, JORC, or SAMREC.

My shortlist would be:

My first choice: Leapfrog Geo + Edge

For a new resource-modeling project, I would probably start with Leapfrog Geo + Leapfrog Edge.

Leapfrog Geo is particularly good at implicit 3D geological modelling: drillholes, lithology, alteration, mineralized envelopes, faults, veins, surfaces and grade shells can be incorporated into a dynamic model. The model can update as you add drilling, which is a major advantage during exploration.

Edge adds the actual resource-estimation workflow, including compositing, domaining/data analysis, variography, kriging, inverse-distance/RBF estimation, block modelling and estimation validation.

The combination is particularly attractive because you don't have to build your geological interpretation in one package and then constantly transfer data into a separate estimation package.

When I'd choose Datamine instead

If your project has a large, complex deposit, sophisticated geostatistics, or an experienced resource-modelling team, I'd take a serious look at Datamine Studio Geo + Studio RM.

Studio RM covers the workflow from geological interpretation through compositing, declustering, grade estimation, block modelling, classification and validation. Datamine also has dedicated geostatistical tools such as Supervisor and Isatis.neo.

Its advantage is depth and flexibility. The downside is that it generally has a steeper learning curve than Leapfrog.

A practical recommendation

If I were setting up your workflow, I'd think about it this way:

Drillhole database → QA/QC → geological interpretation → mineralized domains → compositing → exploratory data analysis → variography → block model → grade estimation → validation → resource classification → reporting

For a modern exploration project, I'd lean toward:

MX Deposit / database → Leapfrog Geo → Leapfrog Edge → resource reporting

Seequent specifically positions Geo and Edge together for geological modelling and mineral-resource estimation.

If you expect the project to progress all the way into mine design and production scheduling, however, the choice can change because integration with mine-planning software becomes much more important.

The important part: the deposit type

The "best" software also depends heavily on what you're modelling. For example, the workflow for a:

• porphyry Cu-Au deposit
• narrow-vein Au deposit
• stratiform Zn-Pb deposit
• Ni sulfide deposit
• lithium pegmatite
• sediment-hosted Cu deposit
• iron ore deposit
• industrial mineral deposit

can be quite different.

If you tell me the deposit type, approximate number of drillholes, commodity, drilling spacing, and whether you're targeting an exploration estimate or a NI 43-101/JORC-compliant MRE, I can recommend the specific software stack and lay out the complete modelling/estimation workflow—including domaining, compositing, variograms, search parameters, block size, kriging method, validation, and resource classification.

Leapfrog Geo is particularly good at implicit 3D geological modelling: drillholes, lithology, alteration, mineralized envelopes, faults, veins, surfaces and grade shells can be incorporated into a dynamic model. The model can update as you add drilling, which is a major advantage during exploration.

Edge adds the actual resource-estimation workflow, including compositing, domaining/data analysis, variography, kriging, inverse-distance/RBF estimation, block modelling and estimation validation.

The combination is particularly attractive because you don't have to build your geological interpretation in one package and then constantly transfer data into a separate estimation package.

When I'd choose Datamine instead

If your project has a large, complex deposit, sophisticated geostatistics, or an experienced resource-modelling team, I'd take a serious look at Datamine Studio Geo + Studio RM.

Studio RM covers the workflow from geological interpretation through compositing, declustering, grade estimation, block modelling, classification and validation. Datamine also has dedicated geostatistical tools such as Supervisor and Isatis.neo.

Its advantage is depth and flexibility. The downside is that it generally has a steeper learning curve than Leapfrog.

A practical recommendation

If I were setting up your workflow, I'd think about it this way:

Drillhole database → QA/QC → geological interpretation → mineralized domains → compositing → exploratory data analysis → variography → block model → grade estimation → validation → resource classification → reporting

For a modern exploration project, I'd lean toward:

MX Deposit / database → Leapfrog Geo → Leapfrog Edge → resource reporting

Seequent specifically positions Geo and Edge together for geological modelling and mineral-resource estimation.

If you expect the project to progress all the way into mine design and production scheduling, however, the choice can change because integration with mine-planning software becomes much more important.

The important part: the deposit type

Yes. For a mineral-deposit resource model, the best software depends on whether you prioritize geological interpretation, rigorous geostatistical estimation, or an all-in-one mining workflow.

My shortlist

1. My first choice: Leapfrog Geo + Edge

If you're starting from drillholes and want to build a good geological interpretation and then turn it into a defensible block model, I'd strongly consider Leapfrog Geo + Leapfrog Edge.

Leapfrog's major advantage is its implicit geological modeling. Instead of manually constructing every wireframe section-by-section, you can build and dynamically update geological surfaces from drillhole, structural and other geological data.

Edge then connects the geological model directly to the resource-estimation workflow. It supports variography, kriging, IDW and RBF estimation, search-neighborhood analysis, sub-blocking and block-model evaluation, while keeping the estimation linked to the geological interpretation.

That's particularly valuable if you're still drilling: new assays → update interpretation → update domains → rerun estimation, without repeatedly exporting/importing models.

2. Datamine Studio RM

If your primary objective is a formal mineral resource estimate with sophisticated geostatistics and extensive validation, I'd put Datamine Studio RM very high on the list.

It's particularly attractive when the project is moving toward a PEA/PFS/FS or a formal reporting estimate and you want a resource geologist to have extensive control over compositing, domaining, variograms, search strategies, estimation, validation and classification.

The tradeoff is that I generally find Leapfrog more attractive for the geological interpretation side, whereas Datamine is particularly strong as a resource-estimation environment.

3. Micromine Origin

Micromine Origin is probably the strongest candidate if you want to minimize the number of separate packages.

It covers exploration data, geological modeling, resource modeling, geostatistics and estimation, while Micromine Beyond extends the workflow into mine design and optimization.

So if you're asking, "What single package should my geological team learn?", I'd seriously consider Origin.

What I'd choose

For a typical exploration-stage deposit, my preferred workflow would be:

Drillhole database → QA/QC → compositing → geological/mineralization domains → 3D model → variography → block model → estimation → validation → resource classification

For that workflow:

Best geological modeling: Leapfrog Geo Best integrated estimation: Leapfrog Geo + Edge Best dedicated resource-estimation alternative: Datamine Studio RM Best all-in-one package: Micromine Origin Best if mine planning is also central: Vulcan or Surpac

One important caveat: software does not make a resource estimate defensible. Geological domaining, data QA/QC, compositing, treatment of high grades, variogram interpretation, search parameters, density, estimation validation and resource classification are much more important than which package you use. Even Seequent explicitly emphasizes that geological expertise and understanding are prerequisites for a valid estimate.

If you tell me (1) commodity, (2) deposit style, (3) approximate number of drillholes, (4) open pit vs. underground, and (5) whether this is an initial resource, PEA/PFS, or production model, I can recommend the specific software/workflow and lay out exactly how I would build the resource model from your drillhole database.

Choosing the "best" geological modeling and resource estimation software depends heavily on your deposit type (stratiform, vein-type, porphyry, etc.), your budget, and whether your workflow leans heavily toward rapid implicit modeling or traditional explicit wireframing.

The industry is dominated by a few gold-standard platforms, each with distinct strengths:

• Seequent Leapfrog Geo: Widely considered the industry leader for fast implicit (algorithmic) 3D geological modeling . It dynamically updates models as new drillhole data arrives, making it exceptional for visualizing complex lithological and structural controls quickly. It pairs with Leapfrog Edge for robust resource estimation.
• Maptek Vulcan: A massive industry heavyweight with a dominant market share in block modeling, mine planning, and life-of-mine design . It is exceptionally strong for traditional explicit wireframing, robust geostatistics, and transitioning a resource model directly into an engineering design.
• Datamine Studio (Studio RM / Studio Geo): A powerhouse specifically renowned for advanced geostatistics and rigorous resource estimation . Datamine is a favorite among senior resource geologists who need deep, customizable control over estimation parameters, domain boundary handling, and depletion workflows.
• Micromine (Micromine Origin & Beyond): An intuitive, comprehensive all-in-one exploration and estimation solution that bridges the gap between raw database management, explicit/implicit wireframing, and block modeling. It's often favored for its user-friendly interface and strong presence in mid-tier operations.
• Geovia Surpac: Extensively used globally for both geological modeling and mine production. Surpac excels in day-to-day mine geology and traditional data processing, though it traditionally requires more manual wireframing compared to pure implicit engines like Leapfrog.

To help narrow down the ideal platform for your specific project, could you tell me:

• What is the deposit type (e.g., gold vein, porphyry copper, iron ore, sedimentary/coal)?
• Do you prefer an implicit (automated/algorithmic) modeling workflow or a traditional explicit (manual wireframing) approach?
• Do you also need the software to handle mine planning and engineering design later on?

For a mineral deposit resource model, the “best” software depends on your deposit type, project stage, reporting requirements (NI 43-101, JORC, S-K 1300), and whether you need only a resource estimate or a full mine-planning workflow. The leading industry packages are generally Seequent Leapfrog Geo, Datamine Studio RM, Micromine Origin, Maptek Vulcan, and GEOVIA Surpac.

My recommended ranking by use case

The workflow I would typically recommend

For a serious resource model, many professional teams use a combination rather than one program:

1. Database preparation

   • Drillhole collars
   • Downhole surveys
   • Assays
   • Lithology
   • Alteration/mineralization
   • Density
   • QA/QC

2. 3D geological modeling

   • Leapfrog Geo
   • Build lithological domains, structures, mineralized envelopes, and wireframes

3. Resource estimation

   • Datamine Studio RM (or Micromine/Vulcan)
   • Compositing
   • Statistical analysis
   • Variography
   • Search ellipses
   • Ordinary kriging / IDW / indicator methods
   • Block model estimation

4. Validation and reporting

   • Grade-tonnage curves
   • Swath plots
   • Visual checks
   • Resource classification (Measured/Indicated/Inferred)

5. Mine planning (if required)

   • Vulcan, Surpac, Datamine, or similar

My practical recommendation

If you are starting a new deposit model today, I would usually choose:

Best overall professional workflow

Leapfrog Geo + Datamine Studio RM

This gives you:

• fast geological interpretation,
• strong 3D visualization,
• defensible geostatistical estimation,
• a workflow commonly accepted by independent resource reviewers.

Best single-software option

Micromine Origin

Good choice if you want one platform and do not want to maintain multiple software systems.

Best for a producing mine

Vulcan or Surpac, especially if your engineering team already uses those systems.

A few details would change the recommendation significantly:

1. What commodity is the deposit (gold, copper, lithium, nickel, REE, iron ore, etc.)?
2. Is it open pit or underground?
3. How many drillholes and assay intervals do you have?
4. Are you targeting an initial resource estimate, feasibility study, or mine production model?
5. Do you need a NI 43-101/JORC/S-K 1300 compliant resource report?

There is no single "best" software for every deposit, as the ideal choice depends on your deposit type, structural complexity, budget, and whether your workflow leans heavily toward rapid exploration , advanced geostatistics, or full mine engineering design.

The industry standard software suites for geological modeling and mineral resource estimation are categorized below by their primary strengths:

• Seequent Leapfrog Geo (with Leapfrog Edge) : Widely considered the gold standard for implicit (fast-updating) 3D geological modeling . Its claim to fame is speed: when new drillholes are added, the geological wireframes and ore domains update dynamically. Combined with Leapfrog Edge , it provides robust block modeling, kriging, and resource reporting directly linked to the dynamic geological model. It is favored by most junior-to-mid-tier explorers and consultancies. Learn more on the Seequent Mining Solutions page.
• Datamine Studio RM (with Isatis.neo) : A powerhouse for rigorous resource estimation and traditional explicit/implicit hybrid modeling . Datamine is exceptionally thorough when it comes to complex data governance, structural controls, and high-end geostatistics (via its Isatis.neo integration). It is heavily trusted by senior resource geologists who need deep control over variography, Kriging parameters, and auditable compliance. Explore features via Datamine Geology and Mining Software.
• Maptek Vulcan : A robust, long-standing industry staple for large-scale open-pit and underground operations [12.3]. Vulcan excels at bridging the gap between geological resource models and actual mine design, pit optimization, and scheduling [12.3]. It handles massive datasets well and incorporates automated domain modeling features (like DomainMCF ) [12.3]. Check out details on Maptek Vulcan.
• Micromine Origin & Beyond : An intuitive, all-in-one suite covering exploration data management, implicit/explicit 3D modeling, and robust resource estimation [12.11]. Micromine is praised for its modern interface, strong 3D GIS capabilities, and relatively smooth learning curve compared to older legacy packages [11.18]. More information is available at Micromine 3D Geological Modeling.
• GEOVIA Surpac : One of the most widely used traditional mine planning and geology software packages globally [11.21]. It is exceptionally customizable through its macro language and provides trusted tools for drillhole data management, block modeling, and grade control, though it relies more on explicit wireframing workflows than pure implicit engines [11.21, 12.4]. Read about it via Dassault Systèmes GEOVIA Surpac.

How to choose the right one for your project:

1. Choose Leapfrog if your project has frequent incoming drill data, requires rapid iterations of multiple geological interpretations, and you prefer an intuitive visual workflow.
2. Choose Datamine or Vulcan if your primary goal is a heavily audited, complex multi-domained resource estimation coupled with downstream engineering, pit design, and long-term mine planning [11.6, 12.3].
3. Choose Micromine if you want a flexible, highly visual, and comprehensive mid-market package that handles exploration data gracefully without an overly steep enterprise learning curve.

To help narrow down the ideal platform, tell me:

• What is the commodity and deposit type (e.g., vein-gold, porphyry copper, stratiform iron)?
• Do you also need the software to handle mine design and scheduling , or strictly geology and resource estimation?

There is no single "best" software for every project, as the right choice depends heavily on your deposit type, company size, budget, and whether your workflow leans more toward rapid geological interpretation or rigorous, heavy-duty geostatistics.

The industry is dominated by a few gold-standard platforms, each with distinct strengths:

• Leapfrog Geo (by Seequent): The undisputed leader in implicit geological modeling . It uses fast radial basis functions (RBF) to update 3D wireframes dynamically as new drillhole data comes in. Paired with its estimation extension, Leapfrog Edge , it provides an intuitive, visually stunning, and auditable workflow. Best for: Rapidly changing exploration projects and geologists who value speed and intuitive 3D workflows.
• Maptek Vulcan: A massive industry staple, especially in large open-pit and underground operations. Vulcan features a powerful, long-standing architecture for explicit wireframing, robust block modeling, and comprehensive geostatistics. It also features machine learning and cloud automation additions like DomainMCF. Best for: Large-scale, enterprise operations and heavy engineering integration.
• Datamine Studio RM & Isatis.neo: Datamine is a comprehensive, modular powerhouse known as the "Swiss army knife" of resource estimation. Paired with Isatis.neo for advanced geostatistics and conditional simulation, it handles complex statistical and probabilistic workflows exceptionally well. Best for: Complex, highly regulated multi-element deposits and dedicated resource geologists who need deep statistical control.
• Micromine Origin & Beyond: An end-to-end exploration and mine-modeling solution that bridges the gap nicely between intuitive implicit modeling and traditional wireframing. It offers robust block modeling, powerful geostatistics, and an approachable user interface. Best for: Mid-tier companies and teams looking for an "all-in-one" package that doesn't sacrifice technical rigor.
• GEOVIA Surpac (by Dassault Systèmes): One of the most widely used geology and mine planning software programs globally. It is trusted for open-pit and underground resource evaluation, data management, and interoperability. Best for: Standardized enterprise workflows and mature operations.

If you can tell me a bit more about your project:

• What is the commodity and deposit type (e.g., vein-style gold, bulk porphyry, stratiform iron)?
• What is your primary stage (early exploration vs. pre-feasibility/production)?
• Do you already have a preferred geological database in place?

I can help you narrow down the best specific software fit for your team.

Yes. For a mineral deposit resource model, the best software depends heavily on whether your priority is fast 3D geological interpretation, defensible resource estimation, or an integrated mine-planning workflow.

My shortlist

My recommendation

If you're starting a new project today, I'd look very seriously at Leapfrog Geo + Leapfrog Edge.

Seequent Leapfrog Geo is particularly strong for implicit geological modeling: lithology, alteration, mineralized domains, faults, surfaces and solids can be generated dynamically from drillhole and structural data. The big advantage is that when you add or modify drilling or interpretations, the downstream model can update rather than requiring you to rebuild a collection of wireframes manually.

Seequent Leapfrog Edge adds the resource-estimation side. It integrates estimation directly with the geological model and supports conventional geostatistical workflows while allowing you to visualize the estimation in 3D.

If the resource estimate itself is the centerpiece, I'd put Datamine Studio RM at the top of the list. It has particularly strong block modeling, variography, kriging, grade estimation, implicit/explicit modeling and advanced estimation functionality. Its current documentation specifically covers workflows for JORC, SAMREC, NI 43-101 and S-K 1300 reporting.

Which I'd choose by situation

• Exploration-stage deposit with lots of changing geological interpretation: Leapfrog Geo + Edge
• Consulting/resource geology and rigorous estimation: Datamine Studio RM
• Large operating mine where geology needs to connect to planning: Hexagon MinePlan Resource Geo
• Want one broad package covering exploration, geology and resource modeling: Micromine Origin
• Existing operation already using Vulcan: staying within Vulcan may make the most sense.

Hexagon's MinePlan Resource Geo is particularly comprehensive: it combines data management, QA/QC, statistics/geostatistics, geological and structural modeling, block modeling and resource estimation, with integration into the wider MinePlan environment.

One important point

The software is actually the second-order decision. A good resource model depends much more on the workflow:

drillhole database → QA/QC → geological interpretation → compositing → domaining → density → exploratory statistics → variography → estimation → validation → classification → resource reporting

You can produce a very attractive 3D model in excellent software and still produce a poor or non-defensible resource estimate. Even Seequent explicitly cautions that geological expertise remains essential when using implicit modeling.

If you tell me (1) deposit type/commodity (e.g. porphyry Cu, epithermal Au, lithium, iron ore), (2) approximate number of drillholes, (3) whether you need a NI 43-101/JORC-compliant resource, and (4) whether you already have a preferred database format, I can recommend the specific software + workflow + estimation methodology I'd use for your deposit.

There is no single "best" software for every deposit type or company size. Instead, the industry relies on a few powerhouse platforms, each excelling at different stages of the workflow—from fast 3D geological interpretation to rigorous geostatistical resource estimation.

The leading options on the market fall into distinct categories based on their strengths:

• Seequent Leapfrog Geo & Edge
  • Best for: Rapid implicit 3D geological modeling and fast iterations.
  • Standout Feature: Uses FastRBF (Radial Basis Function) mathematical interpolation. When new drill data comes in, your geological wireframes and volumes update instantly. Paired with its Leapfrog Edge extension, it provides an intuitive, highly visual environment for resource estimation, though it can lack some ultra-niche or multi-indicator geostatistical algorithms found in dedicated legacy packages.
• Datamine Studio RM & Isatis.neo
  • Best for: Rigorous, enterprise-level resource estimation and complex geostatistics.
  • Standout Feature: Considered an industry workhorse ("Swiss Army Knife") for resource governance. Studio RM handles explicit/implicit modeling and robust block modeling, while pairing it with Isatis.neo gives you world-class spatial data analysis, kriging, and conditional simulations. It is heavily favored by senior resource geologists who need deep statistical auditability.
• Maptek Vulcan
  • Best for: Large-scale open-pit and underground operations bridging geology to mine design.
  • Standout Feature: A deeply integrated ecosystem where geological block models flow directly into pit optimization, scheduling, and mine engineering design. Features like DomainMCF bring automated, machine learning-driven domain modeling into the fold.
• Micromine Origin
  • Best for: Mid-tier operations, explorers, and high-performance data visualization.
  • Standout Feature: Excellent drillhole data management and a user-friendly interface that spans exploration, explicit/implicit modeling, and block modeling. It features built-in AI tools (like Grade Copilot) and integrates smoothly with cloud collaboration via Micromine Nexus.
• GEOVIA Surpac
  • Best for: Global industry-standard versatility in mine planning and resource management.
  • Standout Feature: Known for its powerful Octree sub-blocking block model memory efficiency and extensive macro/Python scripting capabilities to automate repetitive estimation tasks. It remains an entrenched favorite across many traditional mine sites globally.

To help narrow down the ideal choice for your project, tell me a bit more about your deposit:

• What is the deposit type / commodity (e.g., vein-gold, stratiform base metal, bulk iron ore, or industrial minerals)?
• Are you looking purely at exploration and initial resource estimation , or do you need it to flow directly into mine design and scheduling?

If your goal is a professional mineral resource model—drillhole database → geological domains → compositing/capping → variography → block model → grade estimation → validation → resource classification—I’d shortlist these:

🥇 My first choice: Leapfrog Geo + Edge

For a new deposit, I'd probably start with Seequent Leapfrog Geo and add Leapfrog Edge for estimation.

Leapfrog's big advantage is implicit geological modeling. You can take lithology, alteration, structure, assays, surfaces, etc., and build/update 3D geological domains without having to manually wireframe every interpretation. The model is also dynamically linked to the underlying data, which is particularly useful as drilling progresses.

Edge then brings the estimation workflow into the same environment, including domain analysis, variography, standard estimation methods, block-model interrogation and validation.

When I'd choose something else

Datamine Studio RM — I'd strongly consider this if the resource estimation/geostatistics is the centerpiece of your work. It has a long history in resource estimation and is particularly appropriate when you need detailed control over compositing, capping, variography, search strategies, kriging and validation.

Vulcan — a particularly good choice if the resource model will transition directly into mine design and planning. Maptek describes Vulcan as covering geological, resource and block modeling and supporting complex deposits, including folded and curved veins.

Micromine — worth serious consideration if you want a single integrated package rather than a highly specialized geology package plus separate estimation software.

One important caveat

The "best software" depends considerably on the deposit and the purpose of the estimate. Software is not what makes a defensible resource estimate. Domain interpretation, sampling quality, QA/QC, compositing, treatment of outliers, variography, estimation parameters, density, geological continuity and validation are much more important.

For example, even Seequent explicitly notes that geological expertise remains essential and that a technically correct software workflow can still produce a geologically unreasonable model.

If this were my project

I'd use roughly this workflow:

Drillhole database
↓
QA/QC + geological interpretation
↓
Leapfrog Geo — 3D geological/domaining model
↓
Compositing + declustering + top-cut analysis
↓
Variography
↓
Block model
↓
Ordinary kriging / IDW / appropriate estimator
↓
Swath plots + visual + statistical validation
↓
Resource classification
↓
Reporting under the applicable reporting code

If you tell me (1) deposit type/commodity (e.g. Au, Cu, Ni, REE), (2) approximate number of drillholes/assays, (3) open pit vs underground, and (4) whether this is exploration, a maiden resource, or an update, I can recommend the specific software stack and modeling/estimation workflow I'd use—including which of Leapfrog, Datamine, Vulcan, Micromine, Isatis, etc. makes the most sense for your deposit.