Botswana Diamonds Awarded Four New Prospecting Licences Following AI-Powered Exploration for Diamonds and Critical Minerals
London-listed Botswana Diamonds has been awarded four new prospecting licences in Botswana following an extensive AI-driven exploration programme across the country.
This innovative approach identified several highly prospective targets for diamonds as well as critical minerals including copper, silver, cobalt, gold, nickel, zinc, and platinum group metals (PGMs).
The four licences—PL298, PL303, PL304, and PL305—focus primarily on diamond exploration and cover a combined area of 2,644 km².
These licences are situated in key regions: northwest of Mahalapye near Serowe, southwest of Jwaneng close to the South African border, northeast of Lerala in eastern Botswana, and near KX36 in the Kalahari Desert.
One licence, located southwest of Debswana’s Jwaneng mine, is particularly significant. Botswana Diamonds highlights that the anomaly signatures here are ideal, suggesting the presence of more than one potential kimberlite—a volcanic rock formation known to host diamonds.
The AI models incorporated multiple variables in their analysis, including mineral chemistry indicative of diamond potential, the presence of slightly abraded diamonds which suggest proximity to the source, proximity to major geological structures, strong geophysical anomalies, shallow Kalahari sand cover, and low magnetic signatures typical of Group 2 kimberlites.
Botswana Diamonds employs AI technology to process and analyze one of the largest exploration databases in Southern Africa, enhancing its ability to pinpoint promising exploration targets.
Beyond diamond targets, the AI analysis also identified promising non-diamond mineral targets. The company has applied for 11 polymetallic licences focused on highly prospective copper, silver, cobalt, gold, nickel, zinc, and PGM deposits.
Some of these applications are on ground with no previously identified copper-related signals and have already been provisionally accepted.
Botswana Diamonds is optimistic about the positive outcome of these pending licence grants in the near future.
Chairperson John Teeling expressed enthusiasm about the development: “This is an exciting milestone for Botswana Diamonds.
Our AI-driven analysis of our extensive database uncovered several unknown or previously unreported anomalies consistent with kimberlite characteristics. One target near Jwaneng scored highly on every variable in our models.”
He added, “Equally important are the results from our models targeting other minerals, which generated impressive copper and polymetallic anomalies. We have submitted several licence applications in these areas and are hopeful of success.”
Looking ahead, Botswana Diamonds plans to revise its work programme, prioritizing exploration in the Jwaneng area where the new kimberlite-prone ground presents the most promising opportunities.
