Botswana Mining Review Comprehensive Coverage of the Progress and Achievements in the Mining Sector
Related Articles
Aterian Plc and AI-focused geology firm Lithosquare have officially launched field operations under their newly formed joint venture, pivoting from agreement signing to active exploration for critical minerals across Morocco and Botswana.
The London-listed exploration company said Thursday that a joint technical team has initiated a systematic exploration strategy following a comprehensive portfolio review. The campaign aims to accelerate deposit discoveries and sharpen drill targeting by merging field geology with artificial intelligence and hyperspectral satellite imagery.
The joint venture represents a growing trend in the mining sector to deploy machine learning to trim exploration timelines and mitigate the high capital risks of early-stage prospecting.
“This announcement demonstrates how quickly the Lithosquare partnership has moved from agreement to execution,” Aterian Chairman Charles Bray said in a statement. “Importantly, this is not simply an exploration programme. It is the implementation of a technology-led exploration strategy that combines advanced remote sensing, AI, geophysics and field validation to improve targeting, reduce exploration risk and maximise the value of our assets.”
In Morocco, the venture is targeting three primary projects: Agdz, Azrar, and Tata. Work will include geological mapping, trenching, and geophysics. Hyperspectral data collected from space will be fed directly into Lithosquare’s proprietary AI platform to rank targets and optimize drill placement.
Meanwhile, operations in Botswana are focused on the copper-rich Kalahari Copper Belt. The team is advancing several licenses, with a particular focus on preparing project PL199/2025 for an initial drilling campaign. Environmental consultants have been brought on to secure the necessary permits for invasive exploration.
Near-term milestones for the Botswana portfolio include the deployment of drone magnetic surveys and the release of soil sampling results from license PL2622/2023, expected by late July.
“Deploying Lithosquare’s technology and approach alongside Aterian’s team will allow for a transparent, low-uncertainty exploration programme and a clear portfolio valuation path,” said Aymeric Préveral-Etcheverry, Chief Executive Officer of Lithosquare.
