Botswana Minerals has introduced artificial intelligence (AI) into its mineral exploration programme in Ngamiland, a move aimed at accelerating the identification of copper and polymetallic mineral targets across its licensed areas in north-western Botswana.
The company said in a recent exploration update that the AI system is being used to integrate and analyse large geological datasets, including geophysical surveys, geochemical sampling results, and satellite imagery. The objective is to improve targeting accuracy and reduce the time required to identify drill-ready prospects.
According to the company’s exploration findings, the AI-driven analysis has already highlighted multiple high-priority mineral zones across the region. These include a copper anomaly extending approximately 9.5 kilometres, a broader 20-kilometre mineral corridor with silver and lead-zinc signatures, and a 2.4-kilometre lead-zinc mineralised core zone within a larger system.
The company also reported that the modelling indicates the potential presence of polymetallic systems, with mineral associations including copper, silver, lead, zinc, nickel, and cobalt. The geological interpretation suggests that the targets may be linked to structurally controlled mineralisation systems within the Damara Belt.
Botswana Minerals stated that the use of AI is part of a broader strategy to modernise exploration methods and improve efficiency in early-stage mineral discovery. The company noted that traditional exploration approaches are being complemented by machine-learning models that can rank and prioritise geological anomalies based on prospectivity.
The next phase of the programme is expected to include further geophysical surveys, additional geochemical sampling, and refinement of AI models to narrow down priority drill targets for follow-up exploration.
Ngamiland has increasingly attracted exploration interest due to its favourable geological setting and potential for base and critical metals, particularly copper and zinc, which are in growing global demand.
The company has not yet announced drilling timelines, but indicated that results from ongoing work will guide future exploration decisions in the area.
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