Russia’s diamond mining giant, Alrosa, is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help locate the world’s next major diamond deposits. The company announced that it has developed a neural network–based system designed to identify promising exploration sites in geologically complex areas, significantly cutting search times and costs.
The innovation comes at a critical time for the diamond industry. Most of the largest and most accessible kimberlite pipes were discovered in the 20th century using traditional methods. Future deposits are expected to lie deeper underground, hidden in difficult geological settings. Alrosa believes that its AI system could be the key to unlocking these resources — potentially saving hundreds of millions of rubles on each project.
Developed by Alrosa’s Digital Laboratory, the system uses a large language model trained on more than 50 years of the company’s proprietary geological and geophysical data. This vast archive, now fully digitized, continues to grow as exploration projects generate new findings. By processing these data sets at remarkable speed, the AI can offer geologists targeted recommendations and pinpoint areas with the greatest likelihood of hosting diamonds.
“This is a Russian development, and we are already testing it,” said Alrosa CEO Pavel Marinychev. “Once trials are complete, it will be scaled across all Alrosa territories.”
Industry analysts note that the breakthrough underscores the increasing role of technology in securing the diamond sector’s future. According to current estimates, the world’s proven diamond reserves stand at 1.7 to 1.9 billion carats — enough to sustain production for only a few more decades. With Russia holding more than half of these reserves, Alrosa’s move could play a pivotal role in maintaining long-term supply.
The project also highlights a growing global trend: the use of AI in mineral exploration. In April 2024, we reported on a separate initiative in Botswana, where exploration firm Botswana Diamonds PLC is applying AI to sift through vast survey datasets to determine the most promising sites for future mines. Like Russia, Botswana is a powerhouse of diamond resources, home to the world’s richest and largest diamond mines.
Credit: Image courtesy of Alrosa.