BOD ADOPTS AI IN SEARCH FOR NEW DIAMONDS

Botswana Diamonds has announced intentions to apply artificial intelligence (AI) in search for new diamond discoveries. According to the company, incorporating AI will assist in a ‘comprehensive search’ for new diamond deposits and potentially other minerals. So far, the company’s database consists of 95,000 sq km of data, 375,000 km airborne geophysical data, 606 ground geophysical surveys, 228,000 soil sample results and 32,000 drill hole logs, total 380 gigabyte of data and 260,000 files.

“Our mineral database in Botswana is simply vast, too big for timely analysis by humans. Think of it, over 375,000 kms of geophysical data, and 32,000 drill holes logs,” BOD Chairman, John Teeling.

He said the massive databases are suited to be analysed 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.” BOD will utilise Planetary AI Ltd Xplore mineral prospectivity technology which was developed in collaboration with International Geoscience Services Limited, a system that uses a unique combination of semantic technology with machine learning.

Semantic technology is a branch of artificial intelligence focused on understanding and representing the meaning of data, information, and knowledge in a machine-readable format. In addition, It enables computers to comprehend, interpret, and reason with data in a manner similar to human understanding, enhancing the effectiveness of information retrieval, integration, and analysis. This allows computers to understand the meaning and context of geological data in much the same way a geologist would, in order to identify zones of prospective mineralisation, based on specific mineral deposit models.

Teeling said the system acts much like a geologist but can function quicker and more efficiently. Vast datasets are processed though AI that finds logical gaps in the data and learns to correct them.

“This exercise is expected to yield fresh insights that will offer drillable targets previously unseen,” said Teeling.

He emphasized that there are more diamond deposits to be found under the sand.

“Now there is the possibility of other deposits being identified.”