Afghanistan has significant amounts of undiscovered non-fuel mineral resources that could present a great source of wealth for the country, says the U.S. Geological Survey.
A 2007 by the USGS, unveiled today at a U.S.-Afghan Business Matchmaking Conference in Washington, shows estimates for copper and iron ore resources have the most potential for extraction in Afghanistan.
Scientists also found indications of abundant deposits of colored stones and gemstones, including emerald, ruby, sapphire, garnet, lapis, kunzite, spinel, tourmaline and peridot.
Gold, mercury, sulfur, chromite, talc-magnesite, potash, graphite and sand and gravel were also listed as examples of mineral resources available for extraction.
"Afghanistan has abundant known mineral resources and also significant potential for additional, undiscovered mineral resources," USGS scientist Stephen Peters said Tuesday in a podcast.
"A viable mineral industry is critical to rebuilding Afghanistan's natural resource sector which, in turn, will contribute to the country's economic stability."
The USGS assessment comes as no surprise to John Shroder, Jr. A professor at the University of Nebraska, Shroder has been studying Afghanistan's geology for decades. He told CTV.ca that Afghanistan probably has the best copper in the world, high quality iron, and other minerals as well. All of these minerals could be a boon to the country, he said.
"The United States should invest heavily in corporate endeavours that will produce good resources in that country," Shroder told CTV.ca.
"(The U.S.) needs to set up (Afghanistan) so that it can be more developed, because if it was better developed there would be more peace."
Shroder said the potential for a prosperous Afghanistan is good, but not likely under current conditions. He cautioned that Taliban insurgents are not allowing the stability necessary to exploit the resources.
USGS scientists worked alongside the Afghanistan Geological Survey between 2004 and 2007 on the preliminary assessment. The majority of information on Afghanistan's mineral resources was produced between the early 1950s and 1985. Until 2001, most of that data was hidden and protected by Afghan scientists.
Since then, the data has been returned to the Afghan government and used to help scientists with the recent assessment.
"The assessment is preliminary because it is based largely on older existing data with very little ground verification," said Peters. "If the USGS were to conduct additional work in Afghanistan, future activities will be designed to acquire new data on the ground."
The current assessment will be used to attract interest and investment as the country works to rebuild its natural resources sector.
"Exploration for and development of mineral deposits can lead to industry and commerce and provide alternative lifestyles to the Afghan people," said Peters.
"A robust mineral industry provides jobs, builds infrastructure and provides government revenue which will contribute to the economic prosperity and stability in the country."
Peters said the known and potential mineral resources are located in all the provinces of Afghanistan.
