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2007 GSA Denver Annual Meeting (28–31 October 2007)

Paper No. 10
Presentation Time: 4:50 PM

PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF NON-FUEL MINERAL RESOURCES OF AFGHANISTAN


PETERS, Stephen G.1, LUDINGTON, Stephen D.2, ORRIS, Greta J.3, SUTPHIN, David M.4 and BLISS, James D.3, (1)Minerals Program, United States Geological Survey, U.S. Geological Survey, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive, MS954, Reston, VA 20192, (2)Menlo Park, CA 94025, (3)Tucson, AZ 85719, (4)Reston, VA 20192, speters@usgs.gov

Afghanistan has abundant mineral resources, including known deposits of copper, iron, barite, sulfur, talc, chromium, magnesium, salt, mica, marble, rubies, emeralds, lapis lazuli, asbestos, mercury, gold, silver, lead, zinc, fluorspar, bauxite, beryllium, and lithium. Between 2004 and 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey and the Afghanistan Geological Survey assessed the known and undiscovered non-fuel mineral resources of Afghanistan as part of the effort to aid in the reconstruction of that country. Quantitative probabilistic estimates were made for undiscovered deposits, occurring at depths less than one kilometer for copper, mercury, rare-earth elements, sulfur, chromite, asbestos, potash, graphite, and sand and gravel. Other mineral commodities are also discussed in the assessment. In addition, the assessment delineated 20 mineralized areas that may contain resources amenable to rapid development and prioritized them for further study.

The most significant known metal deposits are of copper and iron. The total copper resource in Afghanistan is nearly 60 million metric tons of copper of which the sediment-hosted copper deposits at Aynak are estimated to contain nearly 30 million metric tons copper. Resources in undiscovered porphyry copper and skarn deposits are estimated to be about 28.5 million metric tons of copper, with additional molybdenum, gold, and silver resources. Sedimentary iron deposits are abundant, and the Haji Gak and surrounding deposits are estimated to contain about 2,260 million metric tons of iron ore with grades higher than 62 weight percent iron. Additional resources in similar deposits are likely.

Selected industrial minerals were assessed in Afghanistan, and undiscovered deposits of several commodities are likely.  The industrial mineral deposits, including deposits of gemstones and building materials are present in quantities sufficient to support local construction industries.

Supporting geologic studies are available http://afghanistan.cr.usgs.gov/ and http://www.bgs.ac.uk/afghanminerals/.

Session No. 156

T10. Afghanistan Reconstruction—USGS Activities in Afghanistan
Tuesday, 30 October 2007: 1:30 PM-5:30 PM
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 39, No. 6, p.425
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