List of free geology software

This is a list of free and open-source software for geological data handling and interpretation. The list is split into broad categories, depending on the intended use of the software and its scope of functionality.

Notice that 'free and open-source' requires that the source code is available and users are given a free software license. Simple being 'free of charge' is not sufficient—see gratis versus libre.

Well logging & Borehole visualisation

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
SGS-Geobase [1]	Drilling data logger that can interface with SGS Genesis	SGS Canada Inc.	GPL	Windows & Microsoft Access	Microsoft Access VBA	Microsoft Access is not necessary, the free runtime is sufficient. Simple graphical interface, Integrity reinforcement, Reporting tools, Satellite Database, Database Validation, Assays QA/QC management with graphics.
QGeoloGIS	QGIS well log and timeseries visualisation plugin	Oslandia, Orano and CEA	GPLv2 or later	Cross-platform	Python	Interfaces with QGIS
OpenGeoPlotter	Mineral exploration drill hole data visualization and cross section generator, strip logs, stereonet		GPL	Cross-platform	Python	Open source PyQt5 app catered to the exploration industry

Geosciences software platforms

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
GeoTriple for Oil&Gas Exploration [2]	Geo-sciences Software platform (data management, display and process)	Geoforge project	LGPL	Cross-platform	Java	Interfaces with WorldWind and JFreeChart

Geostatistics

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
Gstat[3]	Geostatistical modeling and simulation	Utrecht University	GPL	Cross-platform	C/C++	Interfaces with GRASS
gslib[4]	Geostatistical modeling and simulation	Stanford University	MIT		Fortran 77
PyGSLIB[5]	Python module for geostatistical modeling, designed for mineral resource estimation	Opengeostat Consulting	MIT/GPL	Windows, Linux and OSX	Fortran 95, Cython and Python	It has functions for drillhole calculations, block modeling, wireframing and geostatistics with modified gslib code linked into python
gstlearn[6]	Geostatistics and Machine Learning Toolbox	MINES Paris - PSL	BSD/GPL	Windows, Linux and OSX	C++ (BSD), Python (BSD) and R (GPL)

Forward modeling

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
Virtual Geoscience Workbench[7]	Finite-discrete element modeler	Jiansheng Xiang and others	LGPL	Windows	C#, C++

Geomodeling

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
GeoSyntax[8]	Reservoir modeling	CSIRO Australia - June Hill	CSIRO "MIT/BSD" (academic)	Microsoft Windows	Java
GeoBlock[9]	Reservoir modeling	Pavel Vassiliev	MPL	Microsoft Windows	Object Pascal	Exact terms not clear
GeoTrace[10]	Tracer modeling	Muhammed Celik		Microsoft Windows	Visual Basic	Exact terms not clear
Albion[11]	3D model reconstruction and visualisation from boreholes based on QGIS GIS Platform	Oslandia[12] and Areva	GPLv2 or later	Cross-platform	Python	Interfaces with QGIS
GemPy[13]	3D structural geological modeling	CGRE Institute, RWTH Aachen - Miguel de la Varga	LGPL v3	Cross-platform	Python	Open-source implicit geological modeling that allows for automation of model construction and is aimed to enable the implementation of probabilistic machine-learning methods, e.g. for uncertainty analysis.

Visualization, interpretation & analysis packages

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
Dapple[14]	Virtual globe for geoscientists	Geosoft Inc.	MIT	Windows		Originated in NASA World Wind
Estereografica Web[15]	Stereographic projection and fault kinematics	Reyuntec	Public domain	Cross-platform	ASP.net	Free web application (english and spanish)
Generic Mapping Tools[16]	Map generation and analysis	Lamont–Doherty and University of Hawaii	GPL	Cross-platform	C	Implemented in OpendTect
GPlates[17]	Interactive visualization of plate tectonics	University of Sydney, Caltech, NGU	GPL	Cross-platform	C++, Python	Implements GPML
OpenStereo[18][19]	Geoscience plotting tool	Carlos Grohmann, University of São Paulo	GPL	Cross-platform	Python	Depends on NumPy and Matplotlib
OpendTect[20]	Geoscience interpretation and visualization	dGB Earth Sciences	GPL or custom	Cross-platform	C++	Interfaces with GMT
Modelgeo[21]	General 3D mathematics with modelling and visualization of geoscience data	ModelGeo AS	Free for non-profit use	Windows	C++, TCL	Originally a petroleum geology program, reads all common geology and geophysics data formats
ParaViewGeo[22]	Geoscience extension of ParaView Includes readers and filters	Kitware ParaView, Objectivity Originally MIRARCO	BSD	Cross-platform	C++, Python	Adds specific readers, stereo toolbar, slideshow capability and mining and geology oriented filters to Paraview
PuffinPlot[23]	Paleomagnetic data visualization and analysis	Pontus Lurcock	GPL v3	Cross-platform	Java	Desktop GUI and Jython scripting interface.
geoh5py library[24]	Python library for the manipulation and storage of a wide range of geoscientific data (points, curve, surface, 2D and 3D grids) in geoh5 file format, natively supported by Geoscience ANALYST free 3D viewer	Mira Geoscience Ltd.	LPGL 3.0	Cross-platform	Python	Documentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocs
geoapps repository[24]	The geoapps repository are open-source geoscientific applications in Python, including geophysical data processing, modelling, and inversion codes	Mira Geoscience Ltd.	MIT	Cross-platform	Python	Documentation and tutorials fully available in ReadTheDocs

Geographic information systems (GIS)

This important class of tools is already listed in the article List of GIS software.

Not true free and open-source projects

The following projects have unknown licensing, licenses or other conditions which place some restriction on use or redistribution, or which depend on non-open-source software like MATLAB or XVT (and therefore do not meet the Open Source Definition from the Open Source Initiative).

Name	Description	Originator	License	Platforms	Language	Notes
Noddy[25]	3D geological and geophysical modeling	Tectask, IUGS	Custom permissive license	Microsoft Windows	C++	Uses proprietary XVT libraries; requires (free) registration
BasinVis,[26][27]	Basin visualization of sedimentary fill and subsidence	Eun Young Lee, Johannes Novotny	LICENSE	Cross-platform	Matlab
Geomodelr[28]	Geological modelling from cross sections	Geomodelr, Inc.	SaaS - AGPL	Cross-platform	Python	Allows creation of public geological models in its web platform for free and query the model with an Open Source Python Package
BGS Groundhog Desktop[29]	Geological modelling from cross sections	British Geological Survey	OGL - Open Government Licence	MS Windows	Java	Free to use software to digitize geological cross-sections, and display and edit borehole logs
Geoscience ANALYST[30]	Free 3D visualization and communication software for integrated, multi-disciplinary geoscience and mining data and models, which also connects to Python through geoh5py, its open-source API	Mira Geoscience Ltd.	Free / Proprietary	Microsoft Windows	C++	Free license key is automatically emailed upon request, and the software is permanently free