Following the december 1979 soviet invasion, extensive soviet exploration produced detailed geological maps and reports that listed more than 1,400 mineral outcroppings, along. The mineral wealth of afghanistan was no secret for afghans. Insurgents are attempting to take control of the areas that are rich in mineral resources. Trilliondollar mineral deposits in afghanistan could lead to. Us discovers vast riches of minerals in afghanistan. Natural resources in afghanistan 1st edition elsevier.
Afghanistan is a country that is very, very rich in mineral resources, geologist jack medlin, program manager of the usgs afghanistan project. Gold, iron ore, copper ore, emeralds, lapis, rubies as well as. Afghanistans mineral riches are attracting global attention. For instance, helmand province, rich in chromite and one of the largest opiumproducing provinces, has faced fierce fighting in the past decade.
Surveillance of mines weak insurgent groups and local strongmen have taken over mining operations in many areas and put a levy on minerals smuggled out of the country, watchdog groups say. Usgs researchers mapped mineral resources on remote sensing missions in. American primacy and its geostrategic imperatives, new york. Gemstones of afghanistan and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Following the december 1979 soviet invasion, extensive soviet exploration produced detailed geological maps and reports that listed more than 1,400 mineral outcroppings, along with about 70 commercially viable deposits. Before its failed occupation of afghanistan, the soviet union discovered that the country was rich in natural resources.
In the 1970s, soviet geologists first described the rich resources of afghanistan. The assessment revealed that afghanistan has abundant nonfuel mineral resources, including both known and potential deposits of a wide variety of minerals ranging from copper, iron, and sulfur to bauxite, lithium, and rareearth elements. Well probably end up spending more money in afghanistan then all the known mineral reserves in afghanistan fighting the taliban there. Afghanistans vast mineral deposits could lift it out of. Afghanistan has over 1,400 mineral fields, containing barite, chromite, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, natural gas, petroleum, precious and semiprecious stones, salt, sulfur, talc, and zinc, among many other minerals. In the 1980s, soviet mining experts drafted maps and collected data that would lay dormant in the afghan geological survey in kabul until the. The mines and mineral occurrences of afghanistan are listed in a table as appendix a of this publication. They knew afghanistan was an intact mineral reservoir, and for centuries they used crude tactics to extract accessible resources. Countrys rich deposits of gold, silver, platinum, iron ore and copper. Afghanistans rich mineral base has been known for decades. Trump has discussed the countrys mineral deposits with. The founder of the notorious, and now defunct, blackwater, has been making headlines for trying to privatise the afghan war. Buzzfeed news is publishing the slide presentation by the founder of blackwater to privatize the afghan war and mine afghanistans valuable minerals.
The baioqurah copper mine was discovered in 1973 by afghan and sovietgeologists and located in the northeasternprovince of. Afghan minerals oh great, another congo democracy in america. After a detailed survey a map of thirteen mineral deposits was published by gsp in 197879 fig. These surveys identified mineralised springs, three pegmatite fields in eastern afghanistan, one in oruzgan province in central afghanistan, and several sedimentary deposits of rare metals, also in central afghanistan.
Rich in copper, lithium, talc, marble, gold, uranium and others, afghanistan s vast mineral wealth is estimated to exceed one trillion dollars. Trilliondollar mineral deposits in afghanistan could lead. Some crude analyses claim the quest for mineral and energy resources are the. The southwestern plateau, south of the central highlands, is a region of high plateaus, sandy deserts, and semideserts. Oct 04, 2010 afghanistan s mineral riches are attracting global attention. Following the assessment, two dozen mineralized areas of interest aois were selected for further study. Afghanistan holds enormous bounty of rare earths, minerals. In addition to fertile soils, the region possesses rich mineral resources, particularly deposits of natural gas. Erik prince has his eye on afghanistans rare metals. In some areas, insurgents have been able to take control of mineral deposits. The landlocked country has huge reserves of copper, iron.
Afghan minerals in the crosshairs of blackwaters erik prince. This is almost amusing actually, donald trump is reported, in the new york times, as thinking that afghanistans valuable mineral deposits might be a. Aug 23, 2017 the value of the newly discovered mineral deposits dwarfs the size of afghanistans existing warbedraggled economy, which is based largely on opium production and narcotics trafficking as well as aid from the united states and other industrialized countries. Geological surveys afghanistan project, told live science. Afghanistan is a country that is very, very rich in mineral resources, geologist jack medlin, program manager of the usgs afghanistan project, told livescience. Department of defense, 2010, most have not been successfully developed, nor have the resources been systematically explored.
Us president donald trump is eyeing afghanistans mineral wealth to. The government has asked for tenders to develop iron ore mines, just part of mineral wealth that could be worth trillions of dollars. Afghanistans mineral resources are a lost opportunity and. Jul 27, 2017 this is almost amusing actually, donald trump is reported, in the new york times, as thinking that afghanistan s valuable mineral deposits might be a good reason for the us to stay in that country. He has written or edited more than 30 books and more than 150 papers. Rich mineral reserves promise to make afghanistan the africa of asia.
The latter 2 categories include deposits, active and inactive mines of a variety of scales, prospects, and showings. The vast scale of afghanistans mineral wealth was discovered by a small team of pentagon officials and american geologists. The value of the newly discovered mineral deposits dwarfs the size of afghanistans existing warbedraggled economy, which is based largely on opium production and narcotics trafficking as well as aid from the united states and other industrialized countries. All the copper and gold deposits occur in an area of one hundred sq. The average elevation is about 3,000 feet 900 metres. May 29, 2018 afghanistans rich mineral resources could prove to be the best substitutes for foreign aid and could decrease the countrys dependence on donor countries and foreign support.
Why is afghanistan unable to extract its vast mineral wealth. Afghanistan s rich mineral resources, if exploited effectively, could prove to be the best substitutes for foreign aid and decrease the countrys dependence on donor countries and foreign support. Sep 28, 2018 the value of the newly discovered mineral deposits dwarfs the size of afghanistans existing warbedraggled economy, which is based largely on opium production and narcotics trafficking as well as aid from the united states and other industrialized countries. The geological survey of pakistan gsp discovered the mineral deposits at reko diq in 1969. Although afghanistan has abundant mineral resources peters, 2007. The new rare earth findings are a crown jewel of the usgss new, 2,000page assessment of afghanistans vast mineral bounty, which will be rolled out september 29 at the afghan embassy in. Afghanistan history, map, flag, capital, population. Bush administration conducted aerial surveys of the country to map its mineral resources. Weve spent more money in iraq then all the known mineral reserves in afghanistan. Copper reserves in afghanistan afghanistan mineral and.
The exploration programme determined that raremetal. And jack shroder, a geologist at the university of nebraska, told the associated press in 2001 that mineral deposits in afghanistan were so rich, they could be vital in rebuilding the country. Purchase natural resources in afghanistan 1st edition. Afghanistan has large untapped energy and mineral resources, which have. Natural resources were supposed to make afghanistan rich. Mining in afghanistan is controlled by the ministry of mines and petroleum, which is headquartered in kabul with regional offices in other parts of the country. Afghanistan is a country that is very, very rich in mineral resources, jack medlin, a geologist and program manager of the u. The lure of afghanistan as a wartorn klondike is well established. The discovery of vast mineral deposits in afghanistan is far from good news for the people of afghanistan. These books go together with the more than 150 other scientific papers he is continuing to publish. However, concrete information about its volume and exploitationare yet to be established. Trump wants to plunder afghanistan for its vast mineral. Afghanistan has scores of othersmaller sites rich in copper. Such extraordinary mineral wealth could drive a renaissance of the.
According to the times article, afghanistans copper and iron ore are now trading at onethird of 2010 prices. These resources, if properly managed, provide an opportunity for afghanistan to write its own story of economic success. Afghanistan has some of the worlds richest mineral resources, including extensive deposits of worldclass copper, iron, gemstones and precious metals. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. The white house is considering sending an envoy to. Identifies vast mineral riches in afghanistan the new york. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Opinion rich in resources, poor in governance the new. The white house is considering sending an envoy to afghanistan to. According to the new york times, however, something has caught trumps eye. One surprising element is the commercial promise prince envisions. Jul 25, 2017 the lure of afghanistan as a wartorn klondike is well established. Sep 05, 2014 afghanistan is a country that is very, very rich in mineral resources, geologist jack medlin, program manager of the usgs afghanistan project, told livescience. Countrys rich deposits of gold, silver, platinum, iron ore.
The baioqurah copper mine was discovered in 1973 by afghan and sovietgeologists and located in the northeasternprovince of badakhshan. In the 1980s, soviet mining experts drafted maps and collected data that. Afghanistans mineral resources fueling war and insurgency. So far, the biggest mineral deposits discovered are of iron and copper, and the quantities are large enough to make afghanistan a major world producer of both, united states officials said. These ores mainly contain iron, copper, cobalt, and gold, but also hold rare earth elements used in cutting edge electronics, such as neodymium and dysprosium for magnets in headphones and.
Afghanistans natural resources as the most important driver of economic growth, and essential to the reconstruction and development of the country. Us finds mineral riches in afghanistan the independent. Other finds include large deposits of niobium, a soft metal used in producing superconducting steel, rare earth elements and large gold deposits in pashtun. What has gone unreported are his plans as trumps advisor to extract the countrys immensely rich mineral wealth.