A challenge worth taking

Earlier this year we shared results of our 2025 Maptek Geology Challenge, with the awards going to Dr. Jen Ellis, Superintendent of Mine Geology & Resource at Rio Tinto Kennecott (first prize), Masters’s student at Clausthal University of Technology, Bahati Moshally (second prize) and Josh Maurer of Carmeuse North America (third prize). 

Second prize winner Bahati Moshally was particularly impressive because it was the very first time he had used Maptek DomainMCF and GeologyCore – a testament to both his agility and the intuitive nature of these tools. A winning combination!

So we dug a little deeper with Bahati to find out what motivated him to enter the competition and how he found the challenge.

‘I had heard about the challenge last year and had been curious about DomainMCF for quite some time. I’m currently a Master’s student at Clausthal University of Technology in Germany, working on a thesis that involves geological modelling and grade estimation,’ he said.

‘The program offers a wide range of courses that allow students to specialise according to their interests. One of the modules, Mineral Resources, includes courses on economic geology and geostatistics, which is the module from which I selected my thesis topic.’

‘When I saw the Maptek Geology Challenge, I recognised an opportunity to test DomainMCF using the dataset from my thesis and explore how it could support my research,’ he said.

He found that Maptek geology solutions addressed nearly every need for developing a geological model, and GeologyCore gave exceptional flexibility for interpretation, allowing modelling of a wide range of geological features.

‘Both products exceeded my expectations. GeologyCore’s implicit modelling tools offer excellent control over object shapes, allowing me to align the model with my geological interpretation. DomainMCF has broadened my perspective and provided a valuable reference for refining and improving my interpretations.’

‘What I also really liked was the seamless integration with Vulcan and DomainMCF.’

‘The way Maptek products are managed within the Maptek Workbench, where settings can be applied across different solutions, makes for a great user experience.’

‘And the ability to publish directly to Vulcan or launch DomainMCF from GeologyCore is extremely convenient. Even in the short time I’ve worked with Maptek tools, I’ve really enjoyed the experience.’

Bahati was able to upskill very quickly during this challenge and felt the experience strengthened his geological modelling skills, gave him new perspectives and allowed him to connect with peers in the field.

‘I improved my skills in interpreting structural data, especially faults. This is a fundamental skill that applies across many areas, including geological modelling for resource estimation, mine planning, and geotechnical assessments,’ he said.

‘I strongly recommend the Geology challenge – it accelerated my learning, gave me access to professional-grade tools, and assisted me with my thesis.

‘I look forward to continuing to use Maptek solutions in my future career and to sharing the value of these tools with others in the geological and mining community.