Botswana Diamonds (BOD) has launched a new initiative to find diamond deposits using artificial intelligence (AI). The UK-based company, known for its exploration efforts, believes this approach has significant potential. Initial results are expected within four to six weeks.
The company has developed a technology called Xplore through a partnership with International Geoscience Services Limited, a UK-based firm. This “mineral prospectivity technology” functions similarly to a geologist but is faster and more efficient.
According to BOD, AI processes large datasets to identify logical gaps and learn how to correct them. This method aims to provide fresh insights and identify new drill targets that were previously overlooked.
BOD boasts the second largest diamond exploration database in Botswana, which includes 380 gigabytes of data and 260,000 files. The database covers approximately 95,000 square kilometers and includes 375,000 kilometers of airborne geophysical data, 606 ground geophysical surveys, around 228,000 soil sample results, and 32,000 drill hole logs.
John Teeling, Chairman of BOD, commented on the project, saying, “Our mineral database in Botswana is enormous and too large for human analysis alone. We input the data and create models based on our existing knowledge. The AI then processes the data, adapting to any inconsistencies or gaps it finds. Although this is early in our work and in the use of AI for mineral exploration, the potential for future discoveries is significant.”
