Botswana Diamonds advances AI-led exploration with four new licences
Botswana Diamonds has acquired four new diamond prospecting licences in Botswana, marking a significant advancement in its exploration activities driven by artificial intelligence. Spanning a total area of 2,644 square kilometres, the licences are valid through 2025 and cover high-potential regions identified using AI-based analysis.
The newly granted licences PL298, PL303, PL304, and PL305 are strategically distributed across the country. They include areas near Serowe, to the northwest of Mahalapye; close to the South African border southwest of the Jwaneng diamond mine; northeast of Lerala in eastern Botswana; and near the KX36 kimberlite body within the Kalahari region.
AI models
Among them, the licence near Jwaneng is particularly promising due to the presence of strong geophysical anomalies, indicating the likelihood of kimberlite formations, specifically the Group 2 variety, which is often associated with low magnetic signatures and limited ilmenite content.
The AI models developed by the company assessed multiple indicators of diamond presence, such as mineral chemistry, proximity to major geological fault lines, geophysical data, and surface evidence like slightly abraded stones found under shallow Kalahari cover.
In addition to the diamond-specific prospects, the AI tools also uncovered promising leads for other minerals. This has led Botswana Diamonds to apply for 11 additional licences targeting polymetallic deposits, including copper, cobalt, nickel, gold, platinum group metals, silver, and zinc. Several of these applications cover previously underexplored zones, particularly for copper-related mineralisation. The company has already received preliminary approval for the polymetallic applications and expects favourable outcomes for full licence awards in due course.
