Seequent Leapfrog 2026.1 Update: What’s New

The Technical Machinery Behind Modern Geological Modelling — And Why Algorithms Matter More Than Ever

Geological modelling software operates on a deceptively simple premise: take raw subsurface data from drillholes, geophysical surveys, and field observations, then construct a mathematically coherent 3D representation of what lies beneath the surface. In practice, this is one of the most computationally demanding and interpretively complex tasks in the earth sciences. The accuracy of a 3D geological model determines how well an exploration team understands ore continuity, how confidently a resource estimator can assign tonnage and grade, and how efficiently a mine planner can design extraction sequences. When the underlying algorithms improve, the entire downstream chain benefits.

This is the context that makes the Seequent Leapfrog update cycle worth examining closely — not as routine software maintenance, but as a window into where computational geology is heading.

How Implicit Modelling Became the Industry Backbone

For decades, 3D geological modelling relied on explicit methods: geologists manually digitised surfaces, drew wireframes, and constructed solids by hand. This approach was labour-intensive, subjective, and brittle — small changes in the input data often required significant rework of entire model sections. The shift toward implicit modelling, in which algorithms define geological surfaces mathematically as a function of data constraints, represented a genuine paradigm change for the industry.

Implicit modelling allows surfaces to update dynamically as new drillhole data is added, reducing the manual workload and improving consistency across large, data-rich projects. New Zealand-based Seequent's Leapfrog platform became synonymous with this approach, establishing itself as the de facto standard for 3D implicit geological modelling across the mining, civil, and energy sectors.

The 2026.1 release, which rolled out simultaneously across Leapfrog Geo, Leapfrog Edge, Leapfrog Works, and Leapfrog Energy on 5 May 2026, represents the platform's most significant algorithmic and workflow advancement in recent memory. Rather than incremental feature additions, the update targets core technical limitations that have long required manual workarounds from experienced geologists.

What the Seequent Leapfrog Update Delivers Across the Product Suite

All four Leapfrog products received updates simultaneously in the 2026.1 cycle, reflecting a coordinated release philosophy that keeps cross-disciplinary project teams working from compatible toolsets.

For teams currently running older versions, the support position is equally relevant to consider:

Teams operating on pre-2024 releases face a meaningful capability and support gap, making the upgrade case increasingly compelling on both functional and operational risk grounds.

A Redesigned Stratigraphic Engine: What Changed and Why It Matters

The centrepiece of the Seequent Leapfrog update for Geo users is a fundamentally redesigned stratigraphic surface algorithm. The previous approach required geologists to periodically intervene when implicit surfaces drifted from geologically plausible interpretations — particularly in structurally complex settings such as thrust belts, fold-dominated terranes, and laterally variable sedimentary sequences.

The 2026.1 algorithm addresses this by dynamically linking geological surfaces directly to their underlying data constraints, so that surface geometry responds automatically as data is added, modified, or reinterpreted. According to Seequent, this redesigned workflow produces geologically sound results for layer thickness, pinch-outs, and tight fold geometries — three categories of complexity that have historically demanded the most manual correction in implicit modelling environments. (Stent, J., GeoDrilling International, 11 May 2026)

Accompanying the new algorithm is the Stratigraphic Data Explorer interface, which provides a dedicated environment for interrogating stratigraphic sequences before committing to model outputs. Geologists can now inspect:

• Layer thickness distributions across the modelled volume
• Pinch-out geometry and lateral extent
• Fold limb attitudes and hinge zone characteristics
• Statistical summaries of stratigraphic unit parameters

This validation step is particularly valuable in feasibility-stage projects where stratigraphic interpretations directly inform resource classification decisions. The ability to interrogate and challenge the model before accepting its outputs reduces the risk of systematic errors propagating into resource estimates.

Geologically, the significance of accurate pinch-out modelling cannot be overstated. Pinch-outs control the lateral boundaries of mineralised horizons in stratabound deposit types — including many sediment-hosted copper, lead-zinc, and gold systems. A surface that mishandles a pinch-out can incorrectly extend mineralisation into barren ground, inflating resource tonnage estimates with material consequences for project economics and investor returns.

Grid-Pattern Drillhole Planning: From Concept to Execution at Scale

Exploration programme design has traditionally been one of the least automated steps in the geological workflow. Laying out systematic grid-pattern drillhole arrays in 3D — particularly across irregular terrain or complex subsurface targets — required geologists to position holes individually or work around limitations in programme planning tools. Furthermore, careful drilling program design underpins the integrity of any subsequent resource estimate.

The grid-pattern planning tool introduced in Leapfrog Geo 2026.1 fundamentally changes this. Key operational capabilities include:

1. Rapid bulk layout of large, systematic drill patterns using live 3D interaction, reducing programme design time significantly for regional-scale exploration
2. Selective hole editing within a grid framework, allowing individual holes to be repositioned or modified without disrupting the broader programme geometry
3. Collar snapping to surfaces, enabling planners to automatically position hole collars relative to topography, pit floors, or geological boundaries with spatial precision
4. Independent control of collar and target point positions, which supports deviated hole design and provides flexibility when targeting specific geological horizons at depth

The practical implication for exploration teams is a shift from sequential, hole-by-hole programme design toward scalable programme planning that can accommodate hundreds of holes while retaining the ability to optimise individual hole parameters. This capability is particularly relevant for large, systematic infill drilling campaigns aimed at upgrading inferred resources to the indicated category under JORC, NI 43-101, or SAMREC frameworks.

Integrating Geological Models with Blast Design via AXIS Connect

One of the more operationally significant additions in this Seequent Leapfrog update is the integration with Orica Digital Solutions' AXIS Connect platform. This connection bridges the traditionally separate domains of geological model output and blast design planning.

In conventional mine operations, geological models and blast engineering tools have operated as distinct silos. Geological outputs were exported in various file formats, manually imported into blast design software, and often required reformatting or reconciliation before they could inform charge design decisions. This workflow created latency and introduced opportunities for data inconsistency between the geological interpretation and the operational plan.

The AXIS Connect integration removes several of these transfer steps, positioning Leapfrog not merely as a modelling tool but as a component within a broader operational technology ecosystem. This has implications for:

• Ore loss and dilution management, where blast design informed by up-to-date geological surfaces can reduce unplanned dilution from hangingwall or footwall overbreak
• Selective mining efficiency, particularly in deposits with fine-scale grade variation where ore-waste boundaries must be respected to within tight spatial tolerances
• Data governance, as a more direct connection between model versions and operational decisions creates a clearer audit trail

What Leapfrog Edge 2026.1 Changes for Resource Estimators

Geostatistical resource estimation is a field where small methodological choices in the data preparation phase can produce materially different resource outcomes. Two of the most consequential decisions in any estimation workflow are capping and declustering — and both have historically been performed inconsistently across project teams.

Capping refers to the practice of limiting extreme high-grade assay values to prevent a small number of outlier samples from disproportionately inflating grade estimates in kriging or inverse distance weighting models. The cap threshold selected has a direct bearing on the estimated grade of a resource, and therefore on project economics, mine planning parameters, and investor disclosures.

Declustering addresses the spatial sampling bias that arises when drillholes are concentrated in high-grade areas during early exploration — a common pattern driven by the natural tendency to follow up on encouraging results. Without declustering, global grade estimates tend to be systematically biased upward, which can overstate the economic attractiveness of a deposit.

The estimation decisions made during data preparation are not purely technical — they carry regulatory and investor confidence implications. Resource estimates prepared under JORC (Australia), NI 43-101 (Canada), or SAMREC (South Africa) must include documented, defensible methodology. Interactive tooling that enables scenario testing and traceability strengthens both the technical robustness and the audit trail of a resource model.

Leapfrog Edge 2026.1 introduces a structured, end-to-end data preparation environment that standardises this process. In addition, sound geological logging codes underpin the quality of the input data feeding these workflows. The update provides:

• A dedicated geostatistical workflow environment connecting raw assay data to the estimation domain
• Interactive capping tools allowing estimators to test multiple cap thresholds and immediately visualise the impact on grade distributions
• Interactive declustering tools with side-by-side scenario comparison, enabling rapid evaluation of cell size and weighting parameter choices
• Seamless integration between the prepared estimation dataset and domained estimation workflows, maintaining traceable data lineage from input assay to final model output

The combination of structure, interactivity, and traceability addresses the three most persistent criticisms of pre-estimation data preparation: inconsistency between team members, opacity in methodological choices, and difficulty in demonstrating defensible process to technical reviewers or regulatory bodies.

Seequent Evo Integration: The Platform-Based Future of Geological Collaboration

Seequent's cloud-based integration platform, Seequent Evo, sits at the centre of the company's long-term product strategy. Rather than treating Leapfrog as a standalone desktop application, Seequent has progressively deepened the connection between desktop workflows and cloud-hosted data management — and the 2026.1 update advances this integration further.

Rachel Murtagh, Seequent's product manager for geology, geostatistics and data science, described the strategic intent as continuing to redefine how customers work with their data to drive innovation, enabled by Seequent Evo, to solve operational challenges and unlock new value across the mining lifecycle. (Stent, J., GeoDrilling International, 11 May 2026)

The operational benefits of the tightened Leapfrog-Evo connection include:

• Geological models built in Leapfrog Geo or Edge can be published to Evo, enabling review by geotechnical engineers, mine planners, and executives who may not hold desktop Leapfrog licences
• Cloud-hosted model versions reduce version control confusion in multi-user project environments where several geologists may be working simultaneously
• Integration supports digital twin workflows in which the subsurface model is treated as a living, continuously updated asset rather than a static deliverable

This architecture reflects a broader shift visible across the geological software sector: vendors are transitioning from licence-based desktop tools toward connected, platform-based ecosystems where value is generated by data integration and cross-discipline accessibility rather than by standalone computational capability alone.

How 2026.1 Compares to the Previous Leapfrog Generation

The table illustrates a consistent pattern: the 2026.1 cycle deepens and systematises capabilities that existed in more rudimentary form across the 2025 releases. This is not feature proliferation for its own sake — each advancement targets a documented workflow friction point with a structured solution.

Who Gets the Most From the 2026.1 Release

Three Structural Signals for the Future of Geoscience Software

Looking beyond the immediate feature set, the Seequent Leapfrog update reveals three structural trends that will shape how geological modelling software evolves over the next several years:

1. Platform convergence over standalone tools. The deepening Evo integration is consistent with an industry-wide shift toward geological data platforms where the value lies in connectivity and accessibility rather than isolated desktop computation. This has significant implications for software procurement decisions at major mining companies, where IT governance increasingly favours platform-native solutions.

2. Embedded auditability as a compliance driver. The traceability and structured workflow features in Leapfrog Edge 2026.1 reflect growing regulatory and institutional investor pressure on resource reporting quality. As ESG and governance scrutiny of mining companies intensifies, the ability to demonstrate a clear, defensible methodology from raw data to published resource estimate becomes a competitive differentiator.

3. Cross-discipline integration extending the modelling ecosystem. The AXIS Connect partnership signals that geological modelling platforms are expanding their value proposition beyond the geoscience team. By connecting model outputs directly to operational tools used in blast engineering and mine execution, Leapfrog is positioning itself as a data backbone for the broader mining operational technology stack.

As mining projects grow larger, deeper, and more geologically complex, the pressure to deliver resource estimates that are faster, more transparent, and more defensible will only intensify. Geological modelling platforms that embed auditability, cloud collaboration, and cross-system integration will increasingly separate themselves from legacy standalone tools — and the Seequent Leapfrog update trajectory makes clear which direction the market is heading.

Consequently, for investors and project teams seeking to contextualise these capabilities, interpreting drill results accurately remains foundational to realising the full value of any modelling advancement. Understanding drill results interpretation within the context of an updated modelling platform ensures that technical outputs translate effectively into informed decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions: Seequent Leapfrog 2026.1

When was Leapfrog 2026.1 released?

Leapfrog Geo, Leapfrog Works, and Leapfrog Energy version 2026.1 were all released on 5 May 2026 and are available for download through MySeequent at my.seequent.com.

What is the most technically significant new feature in Leapfrog Geo 2026.1?

The redesigned stratigraphic surface algorithm represents the most substantial technical advancement, dynamically linking geological surfaces to underlying data and introducing the Stratigraphic Data Explorer for sequence analysis, layer statistics, and model validation before committing to interpretation decisions.

What does Leapfrog Edge 2026.1 add for resource estimation workflows?

The update introduces a dedicated, structured end-to-end geostatistical data preparation environment, including interactive capping and declustering tools with side-by-side scenario comparison capability, and seamless integration of the prepared estimation dataset into domained estimation workflows.

How does the 2026.1 release improve integration with Seequent Evo?

The update deepens the connection between desktop Leapfrog workflows and the Seequent Evo cloud platform, enabling improved data publishing, multi-user collaboration, and stakeholder access to geological models without requiring desktop software licences.

What third-party platform does Leapfrog Geo 2026.1 integrate with?

The release introduces integration with Orica Digital Solutions' AXIS Connect platform, bridging 3D geological model outputs with blast design workflows to reduce data transfer friction and support tighter geological-operational alignment. For a broader overview of what's new in Leapfrog 2025.3, Seequent's official release notes provide additional technical context on the preceding update cycle.

Which Leapfrog versions are currently in full support?

Versions spanning 2024.1 through 2026.1 are in full support. Versions released prior to 2024 have transitioned to reduced or self-serve support, creating a practical upgrade case for teams on older releases.

This article is informational in nature and does not constitute investment advice. Forward-looking statements regarding software capabilities and industry trends are based on publicly available information and analyst observations. Readers should conduct independent due diligence before making technology procurement or investment decisions.

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