KEY POINTS
- Botswana Diamonds’ AI tech uncovered seven new kimberlite targets, enhancing Botswana’s global diamond mining leadership.
- AI pinpointed polymetallic targets outside current licenses, revealing potential gold, copper, and platinum-rich deposits.
- Planetary AI’s Xplore platform enables precise, large-scale mineral exploration, transforming Botswana Diamonds’ growth trajectory.
Botswana Diamonds PLC has harnessed advanced artificial intelligence and high-performance computing to analyze a staggering 400,000 square kilometers of geophysical and exploration data.
This massive undertaking—beyond the scope of conventional analysis—has unearthed transformative insights, positioning the company at the forefront of tech-driven mineral discovery.
Diamonds and beyond: AI uncovers untapped potential
Among the standout discoveries are seven previously unknown kimberlite targets located within the company’s existing licenses. These findings not only enhance Botswana’s global reputation as a diamond mining hub but also highlight the enduring promise of its rich geological landscape.
The exploration, powered by AI, extends beyond diamonds. The technology identified polymetallic targets in unlicensed areas, pointing to potentially lucrative deposits of gold, copper, silver, nickel, zinc, and platinum group metals.
According to MiningWeekly, this diversification signals Botswana Diamonds’ broader ambitions and underscores the scalability of its AI-driven approach, which now focuses on four main deposit types and 11 subtypes.
Planetary AI: The tech engine driving Botswana’s success
Central to this leap forward is Planetary AI’s Xplore platform, a UK-developed mineral prospectivity tool that integrates vast datasets to deliver pinpoint accuracy in identifying mineral deposits.
The system’s ability to target specific elements across varied terrains has redefined the efficiency and scope of large-scale exploration.
John Teeling, chairperson of Botswana Diamonds, emphasized the seismic impact of these innovations. “In just a few months, we’ve made discoveries that would have taken years using traditional methods,” Teeling stated.
Among the findings, one anomaly stands out for its scale and potential, fueling optimism about the discovery of significant diamond deposits still hidden within Botswana’s rich reserves.
A Transformative Future for Mineral Exploration
With three operational diamond mines in Botswana and a portfolio spanning South Africa, Botswana Diamonds is poised for a new growth era. These AI-driven advancements not only strengthen its existing operations but also open doors to uncharted opportunities in mineral exploration across the region.
This strategic pivot to cutting-edge technology marks a defining moment for the company and positions Botswana as a leader in the global race to innovate resource discovery.
