According to Botswana Diamonds, the use of AI enables computers to "understand" the meaning and context of geological data in the same way that a geologist would.

Botswana Diamonds, one of the country's largest mining companies, is leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to conduct a comprehensive search for fresh diamond deposits and other minerals.

The firm, which is listed on both the London and Botswana Stock Exchanges, announced plans to use Planetary AI Ltd's Xplore mineral prospectivity technology, which was developed in partnership with International Geoscience Services Limited.

Xplore is a system that employs a unique blend of semantic technologies and machine learning.

Semantic technology, a branch of artificial intelligence, that focuses on interpreting and representing the meaning of data, information, and knowledge in a machine-readable format.

It helps computers to comprehend, interpret, and reason with data in a manner akin to human thinking, therefore improving the effectiveness of information retrieval, integration, and analysis, said Botswana Diamond.

According to the company, this enables computers to "understand" the meaning and context of geological data in the same way that a geologist would, allowing them to identify zones of probable mineralization based on specific mineral deposit models.

The system functions similarly to a geologist, but with greater speed and efficiency.

Large datasets are processed using AI, which detects logical gaps in the data and learns to correct them.

This iniative is expected to give new insights that will provide drillable sites that were previously unknown, said the company.

"Our mineral database in Botswana is simply vast. 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,” Botswana Diamonds chairman John Teeling said.