Botswana Diamonds set to use AI to analyse database

9th Apr 2024 12:53

(Sharecast News) - Botswana Diamonds announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) techniques into its extensive Botswana database on Tuesday.

The AIM-traded firm said that, with the second-largest diamond exploration database in Botswana, it was "well-positioned" to leverage AI in conducting a comprehensive search for new diamond deposits and potentially other minerals.

It said the database comprised around 95,000 square kilometres of data, including around 375,000 kilometres of airborne geophysical data, 606 ground geophysical surveys, about 228,000 soil sample results, and around 32,000 drill hole logs, totaling 380 gigabytes of data and 260,000 files.

Botswana Diamonds said it would use Planetary AI's 'Xplore' mineral prospectivity technology, developed in collaboration with International Geoscience Services.

It said Xplore employs a unique combination of semantic technology and machine learning, enabling computers to comprehend, interpret, and reason with geological data in a manner akin to human understanding.

The advanced technology would enhance information retrieval, integration, and analysis, enabling the identification of zones of prospective mineralisation based on specific mineral deposit models.

Botswana Diamonds said the system functions akin to a geologist, but operates with greater speed and efficiency.

By processing vast datasets through AI algorithms, the system identifies logical gaps in the data and learns to correct them.

That process was anticipated to unveil new insights, potentially revealing drillable targets that were previously overlooked.

"Our mineral database in Botswana is simply vast; too big for timely analysis by humans," said chairman John Teeling, pointing to the more-than-375,000 kilometres of geophysical data, and 32,000 drill hole logs.

"Massive databases are suited to analysis by computer-based large data models and artificial intelligence techniques which can analyse substantial amounts of data in a short time.

"We feed in the data and create the models from our existing knowledge both theoretical and factual."

Teeling said the techniques then produce results, adding that where it finds inconsistencies or gaps, it adapts.

"It is early stages in both our work and the use of the technique in mineral exploration, but the future potential is huge.

"An added exciting bonus for BOD and for Botswana is that the technique will analyse a number of different minerals.

"We have always believed that there are more diamond deposits to be found under the sand; now there is the possibility of other deposits being identified."

At 1145 BST, Botswana Diamonds shares were down 6.4% at 0.35p.

Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com.