Huge mineral discovery could alter Afghan war

Huge mineral discovery could alter Afghan war
By Rahim Faiez - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Jun 14, 2010 11:16:30 EDT

KABUL, Afghanistan — U.S. geologists have discovered vast mineral wealth in Afghanistan, possibly amounting to $1 trillion, President Hamid Karzai’s spokesman said Monday.

Waheed Omar told reporters the findings were made by the U.S. Geological Survey under contract to the Afghan government.

“The result of the survey ... has shown that Afghanistan has mineral resources worth $1 trillion,” Omar said. “This is not an overall survey of all minerals in Afghanistan. Whatever has been found in this survey is worth $1 trillion.”

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A 2007 report by the USGS said most of the data on Afghanistan’s mineral resources was produced between the early 1950s and 1985 but much was hidden and protected by Afghan scientists “during the intermittent conflict over the next two decades.”

~snip~

Geologists have known for decades that Afghanistan contained substantial mineral resources, including copper, gold and cobalt. But the resources have never been fully exploited because of decades of armed conflict and poor infrastructure. The Times said huge lithium deposits were found in Ghazni province — much of which is effectively under Taliban control.



unhappycamper comment: Who could have known? :eyes:

instead of oil..so is this another justification for their injuries and deaths ? seems that way to me.

Just like Iraq..

Oh.. Wait..

Not sure why this is such a big story...it's been known for years about all the riches in Afghanistan, but it's the cost of getting those elements that are the problem. Even if we send 500,000 troops the expenses of doing business have been cost prohibitive...the combination of terrain and security. The tribal nature of this country also works against any real exploitation as their loyalties change by the day and they're already making very big money with opium sales.