Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Geological Survey under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development

Preliminary Assessment of Non-Fuel Mineral Resources of Afghanistan, 2007

The U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan Geological Survey estimated numbers of undiscovered deposits in Afghanistan by using geology-based assess-ment methodology. Estimates of known and undiscovered copper resources total nearly 60 million metric tons of copper. Resources of iron in known deposits are more than 2,200 million metric tons of iron ore. Twenty mineralized areas were identified that merit further study and may contain resources amenable to rapid development.

Pakistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan

Pakistan

India

China

Iran

HERAT

FARAH

GHOR

BADAKHSHAN

ORUZGAN

GHAZNI

BALKH

FARYAB

ZABUL

BAGHLANSARIPUL

BAMYAN

TAKHAR

PARVAN

WARDAK

SAMANGAN

KUNDUZ

NURISTAN

KUNAR

KHOSTPAKTIA

KABULLOGAR

JAWZJAN

BADGHIS

NANGARHAR

PAKTIKA

KAPISA

LAGHMAN

KANDAHARNIMROZ

HELMAND

1 Aynak2 Haji Gak3 Afghan-Tajik Basin4 Panjsher Valley

1

2

43

62 66 70 74

38

34

30

EXPLANATION

Known Resources

0 100 200 KILOMETERS

0 30 60 90 120 150 MILES

Promising mineralized areasNon-fuel minerals

Asbestos-talc-magnesiteBariteBauxiteCelestiteChromiteClayGlass sandGraphiteIgneous-related copperIgneous-related ironIgneous-related lead and zinc

Lapis lazuliLode goldPegmatitePlacer goldSand and gravelSedimentary copperSedimentary ironSedimentary lead and zincStoneSulfur

Figure 1.  Map of Afghanistan showing mineralized areas recommended for further study (rectangular areas), known non-fuel mineral deposits and prospects (small dots), and selected mineral deposits for which resources have been published in the past (various symbols).

Introduction Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) to of all types. Quantitative probabilistic assess the non-fuel mineral resources of estimates were made for undiscovered

AAfghanistan as part of the effort to aid in deposits of copper, mercury, rare-earth fghanistan has abundant the reconstruction of that country. elements, sulfur, chromite, asbestos, pot-mineral resources, including

An assessment is an estimation or ash, graphite, and sand and gravel. These known deposits of copper, iron, barite, evaluation, in this instance of undiscov- estimates were made for undiscovered sulfur, talc, chromium, magnesium, salt, ered non-fuel mineral resources. Min- deposits at depths less than a kilometer. mica, marble, rubies, emeralds, lapis eral resources are materials that are in Other deposit types were considered and lazuli, asbestos, nickel, mercury, gold such form that economic extraction of discussed in the assessment, but quantita-and silver, lead, zinc, fluorspar, bauxite, a commodity is currently or potentially tive estimates of numbers of undiscov-beryllium, and lithium (fig. 1). Between feasible. In this assessment, teams of ered deposits were not made. In addition, 2005 and 2007, the U.S. Agency for scientists from the USGS and the AGS the assessment resulted in the delineation International Development (USAID) compiled information about known min- of 20 mineralized areas for further study, funded a cooperative study by the U.S. eral deposits and then evaluated the pos- of which several may contain resources Geological Survey (USGS) and the sible occurrence of undiscovered deposits amenable to rapid development.

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2007–3063U.S. Geological Survey October 2007

Resource Summary deposits could also contain epithermal resulted in a mean expected value of precious-metal deposits. 980,000 metric tons of chromium oxide.

Known resources of gold total about Asbestos deposits related to mafic Metals 1,780 kilograms (kg) in lode deposits igneous rocks are also present in Logar

and 918 kg in placer deposits. Additional and Khost Provinces. Estimation of Sediment-hosted copper deposits at deposits are probable, and exploitation undiscovered asbestos deposits resulted

Aynak contain known resources of more of small- to medium-sized gold deposits in a mean expected value of 13.4 million than 12.3 million metric tons of copper. could provide a source of local industry metric tons of asbestos. Undiscovered sediment-hosted copper and employment. Graphite is present in a number of deposits similar to Aynak in nearby areas Lead and zinc deposits in Afghani- small occurrences in northeastern Afghan-could contain a mean of 17 million metric stan contain a known resource of about istan. The known resource totals about tons of copper and 600,000 metric tons of 244,000 metric tons of combined lead and 5,000 metric tons of graphite. Undiscov-cobalt. The total (known and undiscov- zinc. Both igneous-related and sediment- ered graphite deposits may be present, and ered) amount of sediment-hosted copper hosted deposit types are present. an expected mean value of 1 million met-of nearly 30 million metric tons would be Tin and tungsten may be present ric tons of flake graphite was estimated.the largest nonferrous metal resource in in potentially important amounts. More Known resources of additional indus-Afghanistan. Known resources in copper knowledge about igneous rock composi- trial mineral commodities are present, deposits related to plutonic rocks (chiefly tions in Afghanistan could permit a more but estimation of undiscovered deposits skarn deposits) are about 70,000 met- detailed assessment. will require further study (table 1). Barite, ric tons of copper, along with auxiliary Known bauxite deposits in Afghani- halite, gypsum, celestite, fluorite, talc and amounts of gold, lead, and zinc. Porphyry stan contain a resource of about 4.5 mil- magnesite, and clays are abundant enough copper deposits also contain important lion metric tons of bauxite that contains to support local industries. Pegmatite copper resources. Twelve permissive about 50 percent alumina and 12 percent fields, principally in northeastern Afghani-tracts for porphyry copper deposits were silica. stan, contain a variety of commodities, delineated. They were estimated to contain such as lithium, beryllium, quartz, feld-a mean of 8 undiscovered porphyry copper spars, mica, gemstones, tantalum, nio-deposits containing 28.5 million metric Industrial Minerals bium, and cesium. Exploitation of these tons of copper, 724,000 metric tons of pegmatite deposits could support local

A number of industrial minerals were molybdenum, 682 metric tons of gold, and glass, chemical, or artisanal industries.assessed in Afghanistan, and undiscovered 9,100 metric tons of silver. Thus, the total Gemstones are present in many of deposits of several commodities are likely copper resource in Afghanistan is esti- the numerous pegmatite deposits and to be present in sufficient quantities to mated to be nearly 60 million metric tons include tourmaline, kunzite, garnet, and support local industries.of copper. ruby. Nonpegmatite gemstone deposits are

Undiscovered potash-bearing bedded Known iron deposits are contained present in northeastern Afghanistan. These halite deposits in northern Afghanistan in both sedimentary and igneous rocks. include emerald deposits in the Panjsher may contain important amounts of potash. Sedimentary iron deposits are abundant Valley and other ruby, sapphire, spinel, Estimation of undiscovered deposits in central Afghanistan and the Haji Gak and lapis lazuli occurrences in northeast-resulted in a mean expected value of iron deposit (approximately 2,100 million ern Afghanistan. Peridot is also known to 27.5 million metric tons of potash.metric tons of ore at between 63 and be present along the Afghanistan-Pakistan

Sulfur is present in two known 69 weight percent iron) is of world-class border. Many areas contain sufficient deposits that contain about 450,000 metric size. This deposit is large enough to sup- amounts of gemstones to support local tons of sulfur. Probabilistic estimates for port a major mining operation. Additional industries.undiscovered bedded sulfur deposits in resources in a number of sedimentary rocks of the Afghan-Tajik Basin result in deposits near Haji Gak bring the total a mean expected value of 6 million metric resource for Afghanistan to about Building Materialstons of sulfur. 2,260 million metric tons of iron ore with

Rare-earth elements (REE) and Building materials are present in grades higher than 62 weight percent iron. uranium are present in Helmand Province, quantities sufficient to support local Additional resources in similar deposits associated with a carbonatite body. Esti- construction industries. The mountains of are likely. Igneous-related deposits are mates of undiscovered deposits resulted Afghanistan contain abundant rock types known to contain 178 million metric in a mean expected value of 1.4 million suitable for use as building and decorative tons of ore with grades between 47 and metric tons of REE and 3.48 million met- stone, such as granite, limestone, marble, 68 weight percent iron with potential ric tons of niobium. Important amounts sandstone, and travertine (table 1).byproducts of sulfur, phosphorous, nickel, of phosphorous, uranium, thorium, barite, Limestone deposits suitable for and manganese. Additional study is neces-fluorspar, and nepheline could also be cement production are widespread in sary to correctly classify Haji Gak and associated with such deposits. Afghanistan, and deposits suitable for permit a more detailed assessment.

Chromite deposits are present in exploitation have been identified in Bada-Undiscovered hot-spring mercury Logar and Khost Provinces, and known khshan, Herat, and Baghlan Provinces.deposits in Afghanistan may contain about resources are approximately 200,000 met- Afghanistan also has abundant sand 32,000 metric tons of mercury, which ric tons of ore with a grade of about and gravel resources. Material adequate is sufficient to support a local mercury 43 weight percent chromium oxide. Esti- for local industry is present adjacent to industry. The areas containing mercury mation of undiscovered chromite deposits most existing population centers.

Table 1.  Summary of known resources and estimated undiscovered resources for selected commodities in Afghanistan identified by the U.S. Geological Survey–Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team. 

3[Values in metric tons unless otherwise indicated; kg, kilogram; m , cubic meter; wt. %, weight percent; approx., approximately]

USGS-AGS assessment of Known resource estimates from

Commodity Province Deposit type undiscovered deposits Abdullah and others (1977)

(mean expected values)

MetalsAluminum Zabul, Baghlan bauxite 4,535,000 (bauxite at 50.5 wt. % Further study recommended

alumina and 12 wt. % silica)Copper Kabul, Logar sediment-hosted 12,340,600 16,880,000 (copper);

copper 600,000 (cobalt)Kandahar, Zabul, igneous-related 68,500 28,469,200 (copper); 724,010 Herat copper (molybdenum); 682 (gold);

9,067 (silver)Gold Takhar, Ghazni placer gold 918 kg Further study recommended

Badakhshan, lode gold approx. 1,780 kg Further study recommendedGhazni, Zabul

Iron Bamyan, Baghlan sediment-hosted 2.26 billion ( > 62 wt. % iron) Further study recommendediron

Badakhshan, igneous-related 178,000,000 (at between 47 and 68 Further study recommendedKandahar iron wt. % iron)

Lead and zinc Kandahar, Herat, igneous-related 90,000 (combined lead and zinc) Further study recommendedPaktia lead and zincGhor sediment-hosted 153,900 (combined lead and zinc) Further study recommended

lead and zincMercury Farah, Ghor hot-spring May contain gold and silver 32,000

mercuryTin and Herat, Farah, tin veins, tin and No previous estimate Further study recommendedtungsten Oruzgan tungsten skarns

and greisen

Industrial MineralsBarite Parvan, Herat bedded and vein 151,500,000 Further study recommended

bariteBrick clay Kabul clay 2,200,000 m3 Further study recommendedCelestite Baghlan, Kunduz celestite > 1,000,000 (at 75 wt. %) Further study recommendedChromite Logar, Paktia chromium oxide approx. 200,000 (at about 43 wt. %) 980,000 (chromium oxide)Fluorite Oruzgan fluorspar 8,791,000 (ore averaging 46.69 wt. %) Further study recommendedGraphite Badakhshan disseminated flake 5,000 1,050,000 (flake graphite)

graphiteHalite North Afghanistan evaporite No previous estimate Further study recommendedKaolin Baghlan residual kaolin 100,000 to 150,000 (clay) Further study recommended

Baghlan sedimentary 385,000 (clay) Further study recommendedkaolin

Lazurite Badakhshan skarn lazurite 1,300 Further study recommendedPotash Balkh, Samangan, evaporite No previous estimate 27,514,000

KunduzRare-earth Helmand carbonatite No previous estimate 1,405,000 (REE), 3,480,000 elements (niobium and phosphorous, (REE) uranium and thorium)Sulfur Balkh, Badakhshan bedded and 450,000 6,000,000

fumerolicTalc, asbestos, Nangarhar metasomatic/ 1,250,000 (talc); Further study recommendedand magnesite metamorphic 31,200 (magnesite)

replacement magnesite

Nangarhar ultramafic-hosted 50,000 (mined previously) 13,400,000 (asbestos)talc magnesite

Table 1.  Summary of known resources and estimated undiscovered resources for selected commodities in Afghanistan identified by the U.S. Geological Survey–Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team. — Continued

[Values in metric tons unless otherwise indicated; kg, kilogram; m3, cubic meter; wt. %, weight percent; approx., approximately]

USGS-AGS assessment of Known resource estimates from

Commodity Province Deposit type undiscovered deposits Abdullah and others (1977)

(mean expected values)

Building MaterialsAragonite Helmand dimension stone 770,000 Further study recommendedDolomite Bamyan building stone 1,040,000 Further study recommendedGlass sand Balkh sand 110,000 (siliceous sand); Further study recommended

10,900,000 (sandstone)Limestone Bamyan building stone 3,500,000 Further study recommended

Badakhshan, Herat, cement and flux > 500,000,000 Further study recommendedand Baghlan

Marble Various building stone 1.3 billion (coarsely crystalline Further study recommendedmarble)

Sand and Badakhshan aggregate 136,000,000 m3 Further study recommendedgravelSandstone Bamyan building stone 650,000 (siliceous sandstone) Further study recommended

Further Information References Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., and Rytuba, J.J., eds., and the U.S. Geo-Supporting geologic studies of min- Abdullah, Sh., Chmyriov, V.M., Stazhilo-logical Survey–Afghanistan Ministry eralized systems and assessment areas Alekseev, K.F., Dronov, V.I., Gannon, of Mines Joint Mineral Resource and reports on the methodology used in P.J., Lubemov, B.K., Kafarskiy, A.Kh., Assessment Team, 2007, Preliminary this study are in progress. Assessment and Malyarov, E.P., 1977, Mineral

d non-fuel mineral resource assess-results are available at the USGS Afghan- resources of Afghanistan (2 ed.): ment of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological istan website (http://afghanistan.cr.usgs. Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Indus-Survey Open-File Report 2007–1214, gov) and at the Afghanistan Geological tries of the Democratic Republic of 810 p., 1 CD–ROM and 1 DVD, also Survey website (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ Afghanistan, Afghan Geological and available online at http://pubs.usgs.afghanminerals). Mines Survey, United Nations Devel-gov/of/2007/1214/ (accessed October opment Programme Support Project 2007).

U.S. Geological Survey– AFG/74/12, 419 p.

Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Doebrich, J.L., and Wahl, R.R., com-

Joint Mineral Resource pilers, 2006, Geologic and mineral The USGS Afghanistan Projectresource map of Afghanistan: U.S.

Assessment Team This report is USGS Afghanistan Geological Survey Open-File Report Project Product No. 158.2006–1038, 1 sheet, scale 1:850,000,

Stephen G. Peters1 (Team Leader; available only online at http://pubs. This study was funded by an inter-

speters@usgs.gov), Stephen D. Luding-usgs.gov/of/2006/1038/ (accessed agency agreement between the

ton1, Greta J. Orris1, David M. Sutphin1, James D. Bliss1, James J. Rytuba1 October 2007). U.S. Agency for International

, Jared Development and the U.S. Geological Abraham1, Mohammad Bashir2, Robert Mars, J.C., and Rowan, L.C., 2007, Map- Survey.G. Bohannon1, Karen S. Bolm1, Jeff L. ping phyllic and argillic-altered rocks Doebrich1, Robert G. Eppinger1, Carol in southeastern Afghanistan using A. Finn1, Bernard E. Hubbard1, Keith advanced spaceborne thermal emission For more information on the non-R. Long1, John C. Mars1, Mohammad and reflection radiometer (ASTER) fuel mineral resources program in Saleh2, Lawrance W. Snee1, Douglas B. data: U.S. Geological Survey Open- Afghanistan, contact:Stoeser1, Cliff D. Taylor1, Abdul Wasy2, File Report 2007–1006, 1 sheet, avail- Stephen G. Peters Gulraihan Waziri2 , Mohammad Omar able only online at http://pubs.usgs.Younusi2 U.S. 2  Geological Survey , and Mohammad Asif Yousof . gov/of/2007/1006/ (accessed October 954 National Center 

2007). Reston, VA 20192 703-648-6348 speters@usgs.gov

1U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.A.2Afghanistan Geological Survey, Afghanistan Ministry of Mines, Kabul, Afghanistan.