London-listed critical minerals exploration and development company Aterian says field operations have started under its recently established strategic joint venture with AI and geology company Lithosquare, marking the transition from partnership formation to active exploration across Aterian's priority projects in Morocco and Botswana.

Following a comprehensive technical review of Aterian's exploration portfolio, the joint technical team has developed and started a systematic exploration strategy designed to accelerate discovery, improve drill targeting and unlock value across Aterian's critical minerals assets.

The programmes combine advanced exploration technologies, including hyperspectral satellite imagery, AI-driven target generation, geophysics, geochemistry and drilling, to prioritise the highest-potential projects, while building a pipeline of future drilling opportunities. The programmes have been established and optimised based on Lithosquare's Geology AI.

"This announcement demonstrates how quickly the Lithosquare partnership has moved from agreement to execution. Within weeks of establishing the joint venture, our combined technical teams have completed a comprehensive review of the portfolio, prioritised our highest-value opportunities and commenced field programmes designed to accelerate discovery across Morocco and Botswana.

"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. With multiple workstreams now under way and drilling planned on our priority projects, shareholders can expect a steady pipeline of exploration milestones as we execute this strategy over the coming months," says Aterian chairperson Charles Bray.

"With this ambitious work programme starting, Lithosquare and Aterian are demonstrating how they can efficiently partner and bring together Aterian priority assets and Lithosquare's technology. Within weeks we prioritised highest-prospective assets and defined and optimised the field exploration plan.

"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," adds Lithosquare CEO Aymeric Préveral-Etcheverry.

The exploration in Morocco is focused on advancing three priority projects – Agdz, Azrar and Tata – through a combination of geological mapping, hyperspectral analysis, trenching, geophysics and drilling.

The hyperspectral datasets generated across Morocco will be integrated with existing geological, geophysical and geochemical information and analysed through Lithosquare's proprietary AI platform to enhance target ranking and drill planning.

In Botswana, exploration is focused on systematically advancing multiple licences across the Kalahari Copper Belt while progressing PL199/2025 towards its first drill campaign.

Across PL197/2025, PL265/2025, PL155/2024 and PL2622/2023, the programme will focus on systematic geophysical surveys, geochemical interpretation and target generation to prioritise future drilling opportunities, alongside ongoing environmental and permitting work.

An environmental consultancy has been engaged to compile and submit the prerequisite documents required to obtain permits for so-called invasive exploration programmes, such as drilling on the licences.

Results from a reconnaissance soil sampling programme for PL2622/2023 are expected in late July.

Drone magnetic surveys and soil sampling are expected to start in the coming weeks as field operations begin across the Botswana portfolio.