3D models and flythrough films for a mineral project: when they're worth it.
Plans and sections each show one face of a deposit. A 3D view shows the orebody, terrain and drilling together. Investors understand geometry faster that way, but 3D isn't always the right spend, and the two main formats do different jobs.
Static 3D isometric models
A designed 3D figure for a deck, fact sheet or news release. Unlike a software screenshot, it is composed for one message. Exploration Sites' models start at $1,800 and typically take 3–7 business days. This is usually the right first step, because the figure works everywhere a map works.
Animated GIS films
A flythrough built from your mapping, geology and drillhole data, showing a project's scale and setting in a few minutes. Exploration Sites' films start at $20,000 and typically take about six weeks. Films work best on a website, at a conference booth and in a roadshow, where someone has a few minutes and sound or narration can carry the story.
What data you'll need
A digital elevation model for the terrain, the drill database, and any geological or resource models, usually from Leapfrog or similar software. The cleaner the model, the less time goes into rebuilding it.
When 3D earns its cost
When geometry is the story: a plunging shoot, stacked zones, a deposit that wraps around a structure, or a system larger than any one section can show. It also helps when terrain or infrastructure matters, such as access, elevation or proximity to a road or port.
When to wait
If you have only a few holes, a 3D model can make a thin data set look thinner. A clear section will usually serve you better until the drilling can support the picture. The same goes for a film: it's a large spend to tell a story that may change after the next program.
Disclosure still applies
A 3D image of a resource or interpretation is technical content. Your Qualified Person reviews it the same way as any map, and anything conceptual should be labelled as conceptual.
Is 3D right for your project?
Tell us what you need to show and we'll give you a straight answer.