2800

2700

2600

2500

2600

2600

2700

2700

2900

2900

2800

2800

2800

2800

2700

2700

2600

2

3

4

1

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

Contact—Dashed where inferred

Area of high gold concentration

Fault, fracture—Dashed where inferred

Strike and dip of bedding

Inclined

Strike and dip of schistosity

Inclined

Vertical

Trench

Exploration shaft

Adit

Site of photograph—Tip of arrow at point of observation; 

number keyed to figure

Trail

Contact—In cross section B–B’

, shown dotted where inferred

Fault—Dashed where inferred

Quartz talus

Carbonatization

Silicification

Strike and dip of bedding

Inclined

Vertical

Strike and dip of schistosity

HYDROTHERMAL

ALTERATION

Orebody

Limonite

Limonitized

Sericitization, chloritization,

carbonatization

Carbonatization

Recent fluvial deposits

Marble

Quartz-mica schist

Amphibolite

Diabase, albitized

INTRODUCTION

These maps are a redrafted and modified version of the Geological map 

of the Weka Dur area, scale 1:10,000 and Geological map of the Weka 

Dur deposit, scale 1:2,000 (Guguev and others, 1967). The original maps 

and cross sections are contained in an unpublished Soviet report (no. 

R1584), prepared in cooperation with the Ministry of Mines and Industries 

of the Republic of Afghanistan in 1967.

The Weka Dur gold deposit lies in a cluster of other gold deposits in 

Badakhshan Province (Ragh district), such as the Kadar, Nesheb Dur, and 

Rishaw gold occurrences (Bothmann, 1953) (fig. 1). These gold 

occurrences lie within a zone of late Hercynian folding and are most likely 

related to fluids that originated from orogenic processes (Peters and 

others, 2007). The Kadar (Kalar) occurrence is hosted in early Triassic 

granodiorite in a 400-m-long, 20- to 70-m-wide shear zone that contains 

numerous quartz veinlets with disseminated pyrite and chalcopyrite and 

grades of 0.1 to 1.6 grams per ton (g/t) gold. The Nesheb Dur 

occurrence is in weathered Proterozoic gneiss and contains three 120- to 

360-m-long, 1.5- to 4.0-m-wide quartz veins containing galena, 

sphalerite, arsenopyrite, pyrite, and chalcopyrite and grades of 0.2 to 1.1 

g/t gold. The Rishaw occurrence is hosted in Lower Carboniferous 

limestone marble and consists of a 400-m-long, 0.6- to 2.3-m-wide quartz 

vein that grades up to 5 g/t gold (Semenov and others, 1967). The 

Weka Dur deposit is the largest recorded gold occurrence in Afghanistan 

and is hosted in Proterozoic mica schist and amphibolite that is intruded 

by diabase dikes and other intrusive rocks (Peters and others, 2011; King 

and others, 2011). The tabular orebody is 350 m long and 2 m wide and 

can be traced downdip for 110 m. Mineralization consists of ochreous, 

brecciated schists containing high gold concentrations along gently and 

steeply dipping fissures. The brecciated rocks grade to 46.7 g/t silver 

and contain arsenopyrite, galena, chalcopyrite, and scheelite. Trenches 

and adits were constructed, mapped, and sampled during the 1960s (fig. 

2). Calculated resources are 958.3 kilograms of gold, averaging 4.1 g/t 

gold (Nazarov and others, 1965; Guguev and others, 1967).

The unit colors on the map and cross sections differ from the colors 

shown on the original version. The units are colored according to the color 

and pattern scheme of the Commission for the Geological Map of the 

World (CGMW) (http://www.ccgm.org).

This map reproduces the topology (contacts, faults, and so forth) of the 

original Soviet maps and cross sections. Elevations on the cross sections 

are derived from the original Soviet topography and may not match the 

Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) topography used on the current 

map. We have attempted to translate the original Russian terminology and 

rock classification into modern English geologic usage as literally as 

possible without changing any genetic or process-oriented implications in 

the original descriptions. The map-unit descriptions are from the original 

Russian map “legend.”

Photographs were taken by Barney Gimbel and Emily Scott of the Task 

Force for Business and Stability Operations (U.S. Department of Defense) 

and by James Gilbertson of SRK Consulting during 2011 field visits (figs. 

3–8). 

Modified from original compilation of 

Guguev and others (1967); see 

References Cited

Bothmann, W.A., 1953, Report on the geological investigation of the gold-bearing 

area of Badakhshan in the north of Afghanistan: Hannover, Germany, Federal 

Institute for Soil Research, Archive 2, Signature 0018660, 13 p.

Chirico, P.G., and Moran, T.W., 2011, Topographic and hydrographic GIS dataset for 

the Afghanistan Geological Survey and U.S. Geological Survey 2010 minerals 

project: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 624, available only at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/624/.

Guguev, M.P., Smirnov, M.S., and Skipin, G.G., 1967, Report on the results of the 

search-exploration party for gold, worked in the Badakhshan Province in 1965–66; 

Geological map of the Weka Dur area, scale 1:10,000, graphical appendix 3, and 

Geological map of the Weka Dur deposit, scale 1:2,000, graphical appendix 5: 

Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, 

report no. R1584 [prepared by V/O Technoexport U.S.S.R. for the Ministry of 

Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan under contract no. 

1378]. Unpublished data on file at Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, 

Kabul, Afghanistan.

King, T.V.V., Johnson, M.R., Hubbard, B.E., and Drenth, B.J., eds., 2011, 

Identification of mineral resources in Afghanistan-detecting and mapping resource 

anomalies in prioritized areas using geophysical and remote sensing (ASTER and 

HyMap) data: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1229, 327 p., 

available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1229/.

Nazarov, G.D., Rolduguin, P.I., Guguyev, M.P., Skipin, G.G., Mautin, V.A., 1965, 

Report of work results for placer gold and ore gold of Badakhshan and Taloqan 

Provinces in northern Afghanistan in 1963–64: v. 1, Unpublished data on file at 

Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, Kabul, Afghanistan.

Peters, S.G., King, T.V.V., Mack, T.J., Chornack, M.P., eds., and the U.S. Geological 

Survey Afghanistan Mineral Assessment Team, 2011, Summaries of important areas 

for mineral investment and production opportunities of nonfuel minerals in 

Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2011–1204, 2 vols., 1,810 

p. plus appendixes on DVD, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1204/.

Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., and Rytuba, J.J., 

eds., and the U.S. Geological Survey–Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral 

Resource Assessment Team, 2007, Preliminary non-fuel mineral resource assessment 

of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007–1214, 810 p., 

available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1214/.

Peters, S.G., Stettner, W.R., Mathieux, D.P., Masonic, L.M., and Moran, T.W., comps., 

2014, Geologic map and metallic and nonmetallic mineral deposits, Badakhshan 

Province, Afghanistan, modified from the 1967 original map compilation of G.G. 

Semenov and others: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1119–A, 1 

sheet, scale 1:100,000, available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119A.

Semenov, G.G., Shwarkov, S.L., Chalyan, M.A., and Rodin, G.V., 1967, Geological 

structure of central Badakhshan; report on geological surveying work on a scale 

1:200,000, carried out in 1965–66: v. 1–2, Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of 

the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R0815 [prepared by V/O Technoexport U.S.S.R. for the Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of 

Afghanistan under contract no. 1378]. Unpublished data on file at Department of 

Geological and Mineral Survey, Kabul, Afghanistan.

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Holocene fluvial deposits

Lower Quaternary to Tertiary conglomerate, loam with porous 

limestone interbeds

Marble

Mica-feldspar-quartz schist, gneissic

Greenstone schist: chlorite-actinolite, albite-tremolite, 

serpentine-chlorite

Quartz-mica schist: quartz-muscovite, quartz-chlorite-sericite, 

biotite-muscovite

Amphibolite and amphibole-epidote schist

Serpentinite

Quartz-oligoclase gneiss

Carbonate-serpentine-actinolite-talc rocks of shear zones

Gabbro

DIKES AND VEINS

Diabase, albite, hornblende

Microgabbro-diorite

Quartz vein

Mica-quartz-albite veins

Zone of crushing and hydrothermal alteration of rocks

Heavy concentration aureole with anomalous gold 

content (greater than 15 grains per heavy concentrate): 

1. Weka Dur; 2. Rishab; 3. Pas Pul, Jegshud; 4. Kwilar

Outline of Weka Dur gold deposit trench map

Spring

Road or trail

Town or village

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

REFERENCES

Modified from original compilation 

of Guguev and others (1967); see 

References Cited

Topography and hydrography derived from Advanced 

Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection (ASTER) 

30-meter Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) data, 2009

Projection and grid: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), 

zone 42 north

World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 Datum

Topography derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection 

(ASTER) 30-meter Global Digital Elevation 

Model (GDEM) data, 2009

Projection and grid: Universal Transverse 

Mercator (UTM), zone 42 north

World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 Datum

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Bar Kham

Kwilar

Weka Dur

1 .5 0 1 KILOMETER

1 1/ 2 0 1MILE

CONTOUR INTERVAL 10 METERS

SCALE 1:2 000

500 400 300 200 100 0 500 FEET

100 50 0 100 METERS

Unconsolidated material

Muscovite-quartz schist

Sericite-quartz schist

Massive chlorite-quartz carbonized rock

Limonitization

Quartz

1. Faults; 2. Shear zone

Mylonitization zone

Channel sample

Specimen and its number

Strike and dip: 1. Bedding; 2. Schistosity

Trace of gold

Grams per ton

1.0 meters

Higher gold concentration

EXPLANATION

Figure 2.—Example of mapping and sampling at adit 5 of the main Weka Dur gold deposit from Guguev and others (1967).

Figure 1.—Map of the Ragh district showing the Kadar, Nesheb Dur, Rishaw, and Weka Dur 

deposits, as well as several unnamed deposits. The location of the Weka Dur prospect area, 

mapped at a scale of 1:10,000, is shown enclosed within the white outline (A). Within the 

yellow outline is a smaller part of the Weka Dur area at a scale of 1:2,000, shown on B. The 

cluster of gold deposits in this portion of Badakhshan Province, except for one unnamed 

deposit, lies within the prospective gold deposit area shown. Also shown are local streams 

and Neogene gravels that contain potential placer gold. 

Figure 3.—View looking northwest along ridge trail. Site of photograph 

shown on map B.

Figure 5.—Aerial view looking northwest at trenches 

and adits shown on map B.

Figure 7.—View looking northwest at trench along 

ridge trail. Site of photograph shown on map B.

A.—Geologic map of the Weka Dur prospect area.

B.—Weka Dur gold deposit trench map. The area is outlined on A.

Figure 6.—Altered and brecciated mineralized marble 

from the nearby Weka Dur main vein.

Figure 8.—Wall of adit 5 in the main Weka Dur gold deposit showing 

alteration, brecciation, oxidation, and veining.

Figure 4.—Crushed, limonitic fault gouge with mineralized gold-bearing 

quartz vein fragments from the main Weka Dur vein. Field of view is 25 cm.

B

2800

2900

3000

2700

2600

METERS

2900

2800

3000

2700

2600

100 meters = 328 feet

Surficial deposits not shown

METERS

NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 

BEND IN

SECTION

2800

2900

3000

2700

2600

3100

METERS

2900

2800

3000

2700

2600

100 meters = 328 feet NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 

Surficial deposits not shown

3100

METERS

NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION 

Trench

Trench

Trench

Adit 3

Adit 5

20 meters = 65.6 feet

Weka Durgold deposit

U D

2740

2900

2880

METERS METERS

2720

2700

2780

2760

2820

2800

2860

2840

2740

2900

2880

2720

2700

2780

2760

2820

2800

2860

2840

Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross 

sections not modified from the original compilations.

Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross 

sections not modified from the original compilations.

Vertical scale and surface elevations on cross 

sections not modified from the original compilations.

2850

2850

2850

2800

2800

2800

2900

2750

2750

2750

Darrah -i- Wed

Khendab

Darrah -i- Kwilar

Darrah -i- Rishab

Darrah -i- Weka

Dur

Darrah -i- Pas Pul

Darrah -i- Jegshud

20

15

25

10

30 20

15

25

20

60

75

75

75

50

60

50

50

25

35

35

35

25

35

45

40

50

50

30

30

70

70

60

60

60

80

45

35

25

20

20

20

20

25

20

25

55

55

80

60

60

70

50

50

50

50

50

50

20

30

30

40

30 30

45

10

30

30

65

35

70

70

70

80

40

70

70

10

35

30

30

20

70

70

45

20

35

30

60

75

50

15

45

40

45 35

65

75

32

75 45

50

70

75

60

60

60

50

50

50

40

20

60

60

60

40

80

60

60

70

60

50

70

60

40

45

50

40

35

25

35

45

50

60

25

20

20

20 30

30

50

70

40

15

45

45

50

15

25

35

20

15

70

50

20

45

20

45

5

3

5

SCALE 1:10 000

B

B’

B’

A’

A’

A

A

CONTOUR INTERVAL 25 METERS

A’

A’

A

A

7

6

3

Outline of Weka Dur gold

deposit trench map (B)

Weka Dur

gold deposit

70°36'00"E

70°36'00"E

37°31'0"N

37°31'15"N

37°31'0"N

37°31'15"N

70°35'15"E 70°35'45"E 70°36'15"E 70°36'45"E 70°37'15"E 70°37'45"E 70°38'15"E 70°38'45"E

70°35'15"E 70°35'45"E 70°36'15"E 70°36'45"E 70°37'15"E 70°37'45"E 70°38'15"E 70°38'45"E

37°32'30"N

37°32'15"N

37°32'0"N

37°31'45"N

37°31'30"N

37°31'15"N

37°31'0"N

37°30'45"N

37°30'30"N

37°30'15"N

37°30'0"N

37°32'30"N

37°32'15"N

37°32'0"N

37°31'45"N

37°31'30"N

37°31'15"N

37°31'0"N

37°30'45"N

37°30'30"N

37°30'15"N

37°30'0"N

70°30'0"E

70°30'0"E

37°30'0"N 37°30'0"N

Gold vein

Prospective area for gold deposits

Favorable area for gold deposits

Permissive area for gold deposits

Potential placer gold area

Drainage downstream from lode gold tract

EXPLANATION

Unnamed

Unnamed

Unnamed

Unnamed

Weka Dur

Kadar

Nesheb Dur

Rishaw

0 2.5 5 Kilometers

1:250,000

Area of A

Area of B

Location map of USGS-Afghanistan 

mineral project area (green box). 

BADAKHSHAN

PROVINCE

LOCATION DIAGRAM

Location of this report: Weka Dur geologic map (A)

and gold deposit trench map (B).

TAJIKISTAN

PAKISTAN

CHINA

Trench

Trench

Trench

Trench

Adit

MAGNETIC NORTH

3 / 1 °2

APPROXIMATE MEAN

DECLINATION, 2014 TRUE NORTH

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

OPEN-FILE REPORT 2014–1119–B

USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 262

Geologic Map of the Weka Dur Gold Deposit, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, Modified from the 1967 Original Map Compilation of M.P. Guguev and Others

Compiled by

Stephen G. Peters, Will R. Stettner, and Linda M. Masonic

2014

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Afghan Geological Survey

Under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Defense

Printed on recycled paper 

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement 

by the U.S. Government

For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225; 

http://store.usgs.gov; 1–888–ASK–USGS (1–888–275–8747)

Suggested citation: Peters, S.G., Stettner, W.R., and Masonic, L.M., comps., 2014, Geologic map of the 

Weka Dur gold deposit, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan, modified from the 1967 original map compilation 

of M.P. Guguev and others: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2014–1119–B, 1 sheet, scale 1:10,000 

and 1:2,000, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119B.

ISSN 2331-1258 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/ofr20141119B

Area of open-file report 2014–1119–A 

(Peters and others, 2014), shown in red

64°E

62°E

60°E

66°E 68°E

70°E 72°E

35°N

34°N

74°E 76°E

32°N

33°N

30°N

29°N

31°N

36°N

37°N

38°N

39°N