42
S A, O 2011
Sarah Simpson
is a freelancewriter and contributing editorfor
Scientifc American.
Shelives in Riverside, Calif.
GEOLOGY
AFGHANISTAN’SBURIED RICHES
Geologists say newound deposits in the embattled countrycould ulfll the world’s desire or rare-earth and criticalminerals and end opium’s local stranglehold in the process
By Sarah Simpson
T
he scene at irst resembles many thatp - RZ A: p Bk Hk p ’ Pk. A pp , U.S. - p , . B p jp ,. T xp k . A p .“T , ,” Jk H. M, U.S. G- S’ A. “Y , , — .”M' , z . Sx , p k p p . T k -
IN BRIEF
Under military cover,
U.S. geologists have mapped Afghanistan’s deposits of critical minerals. Rich re-serves of rare-earth elements exist in the south, whereTaliban control is tightest.
If mining
of important minerals can take o in the
north, that success could create enormous commer-cial and political momentum for opening the south.New estimates indicate that rare earths could be triplethe initial
predictions.
Overcoming
the country’s opium and Taliban strong-holds with a mining bonanza could change U.S. for-eign policy and world stability.
Over the long term,
Afghanistan’s geologists will haveto take charge. The U.S. Geological Survey is nearlydone training them.
M O I S E S S A M A N
R e d u x P i c t u r e s
© 2011 Scientific American
O 2011, SA.
43
Illustration by Artist Name
Desolate hills
in southernAghanistan could harborenough rare-earth elements tosupply the world or years.
© 2011 Scientific American
44
S A, O 2011
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Map by XNR Productions
HeratFarahLashkar GahSanginMaymana
North Herat
BARITE,LIMESTONE
Nalbandon
LEAD, ZINC
Kharnak-Kanjar
MERCURY
Khanneshin
RARE EARTHS,
CARBONATITE, URANIUM
Chakhansur
LITHIUM
Godzareh
LITHIUM
South Helmand
TRAVERTINE
Dusar-Shaida
TIN, COPPER
TOURMALINE,TIN
Namaksar-e-Herat
LITHIUM
R
i
n
g
R
o
a
d
T UR
N
ST
A N
RA N
Afghanistan’s Promiseas a Global Mining Center
An astounding variety of minerals lie buried in Afghanistan, includ-ing seven world-class deposits (
red labels
). Based on recent science,
senior ocials think mining could make the country economically
stable and cut its heavy dependence on foreign aid and illicit opiumtrade. Outside nations have already invested in two sites, and sixmore are scheduled for auction (
key
); infrastructure will have to beimproved, however. Production at a single large mine could provide jobs for tens of thousands of Afghans.
MINERAL WEALTH
SOURCES: USGS (
base image and resource overlay information
); U.N. DEPARTMENT OF SAFETY AND SECURITY, AFGHANISTAN OPIUM SURVEY 2010, SUMMARY FINDINGS, U.N. OFFICEON DRUGS AND CRIME (
security levels
); GOVERNMENT OF AFGHANISTAN, AFGHANISTANOPIUM SURVEY 2010, SUMMARY FINDINGS, U.N. OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME (
opium cultivation
)
Tonnage of rareearths here maybe triple thecurrent estimate Science reveals$29 billion incopper alone
© 2011 Scientific American
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Afghanistan's Mineral Resources_Scientific American Oct 2011
Afghanistan has some of the most complex and varied geology in the world. This has resulted in an astounding variety of minerals that lie buried in this embattled country. Over 1400 mineral occurrences are recorded to…
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