Summaries of Important Areas for Mineral Investment and 

Production Opportunities of Nonfuel Minerals in 

Afghanistan

By Stephen G. Peters, Trude V.V. King, Thomas J. Mack, Michael P. Chornack (eds.), and the 

U.S. Geological Survey Afghanistan Mineral Assessment Team

Volume II

Prepared in cooperation with the 

U.S. Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations and the 

Afghanistan Geological Survey

This report is printed in two volumes; a DVD in the pocket of 

volume I contains the whole report. Volume I contains the 

Executive Summary and chapters 1–10C. Volume II contains

chapters 11A–26C. The chapters and appendixes 1–3 are 

also available separately on the Web.

Open-File Report 2011–1204

USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 199

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

KEN SALAZAR, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Marcia K. McNutt, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2011 

For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth,

its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment—visit 

http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS

For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications,

visit http://www.usgs.gov/pubprod

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

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual 

copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted material contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

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, 1,810 p. plus appendixes on 

DVD. (Also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2011/1204/.) 

ISBN 978–1–4113–3228–7 
vii

Contents

[Numbers and letters at left designate the chapters. This report is printed in two volumes; the first contains the Executive Summary, chapters 1–10C, and 

appendixes 1–3; the second contains chapters 11A–26C. For images in the B-lettered chapters that are derived from hyperspectral data, higher resolution 

files are also available at http://afghanistan.cr.usgs.gov/minerals] 

Volume I

Executive Summary .......................................................................................................................................................iii

1. Introduction to Summaries of Important Areas for Mineral Investment and Production Opportunities 

in Afghanistan ................................................................................................................................................... 1 

2A. Summary of the Aynak Copper, Cobalt, and Chromium Area of Interest ........................................................36

2B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Aynak Copper, Cobalt, and Chromium Area of Interest ........95

2C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Aynak Copper, Cobalt, and Chromium Area of Interest ..............................135

3A. Summary of the Badakhshan Gold Area of Interest......................................................................................161

3B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Badakhshan Gold Area of Interest ......................................186

3C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Badakhshan Gold Area of Interest..............................................................203

4A. Summary of the Balkhab Copper Area of Interest.........................................................................................224

4B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Balkhab Copper Area of Interest.........................................248

4C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Balkhab Copper Area of Interest................................................................. 275

5A. Summary of the Daykundi Tin and Tungsten Area of Interest.......................................................................294

5B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Daykundi Tin and Tungsten Area of Interest.......................314

5C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Daykundi Tin and Tungsten Area of Interest...............................................342

6A. Summary of the Dusar-Shaida Copper and Tin Area of Interest...................................................................363

6B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Dusar-Shaida Copper and Tin Area of Interest ...................392

6C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Dusar-Shaida Copper and Tin Area of Interest...........................................428

7A. Summary of the Haji-Gak Iron Area of Interest .............................................................................................450

7B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Haji-Gak Iron Area of Interest..............................................499

7C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Haji-Gak Iron Area of Interest .....................................................................549

7D. A Reevaluation of the Geology and Mineral Resources of the Haji-Gak Iron Deposit...................................570

8A. Summary of the Katawas Gold Area of Interest ............................................................................................598

8B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Katawas Gold Area of Interest ............................................617

8C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Katawas Gold Area of Interest ....................................................................642

9A. Summary of the Karnak-Khanjar Mercury Area of Interest............................................................................665

9B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Karnak-Khanjar Mercury Area of Interest............................693

9C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Karnak-Khanjar Mercury Area of Interest....................................................729

10A. Summary of the Kundalan Copper and Gold Area of Interest .......................................................................747

10B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Kundalan Copper and Gold Area of Interest .......................778

10C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Kundalan Copper and Gold Area of Interest ...............................................835
viii

Volume II

11A. Summary of the Nalbandon Lead and Zinc Area of Interest..........................................................................851

11B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Nalbandon Lead and Zinc Area of Interest..........................895

11C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Nalbandon Lead and Zinc Area of Interest..................................................933

12A. Summary of the North Takhar Gold Placer Area of Interest..........................................................................951

12B. Geohydrologic Summary of the North Takhar Gold Placer Area of Interest..................................................969

13A. Summary of the Panjsher Valley Emerald, Iron, and Silver Area of Interest .................................................987

13B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Panjsher Valley Emerald, Iron, and Silver Area of Interest 1017

13C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Panjsher Valley Emerald, Iron, and Silver Area of Interest ....................... 1046

14A. Summary of the Tourmaline Tin Area of Interest......................................................................................... 1061

14B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Tourmaline Tin Area of Interest......................................... 1078

14C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Tourmaline Tin Area of Interest................................................................. 1096

15A. Summary of the Zarkashan Copper and Gold Area of Interest ................................................................... 1113

15B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Zarkashan Copper and Gold Area of Interest.................... 1154

15C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Zarkashan Copper and Gold Area of Interest ........................................... 1206

16A. Introduction to Industrial Minerals ............................................................................................................... 1227

16B. Cement in Afghanistan................................................................................................................................ 1243

17A. Summary of the Baghlan Clay and Gypsum Area of Interest...................................................................... 1271

17B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Baghlan Clay and Gypsum Area of Interest ...................... 1284

17C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Baghlan Clay and Gypsum Area of Interest.............................................. 1303

18A. Summary of the Bakhud Fluorite Area of Interest ....................................................................................... 1320

18B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Bakhud Fluorite Area of Interest........................................ 1328

18C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Bakhud Fluorite Area of Interest ............................................................... 1347

19A. Summary of the Dudkash Industrial Minerals Area of Interest .................................................................... 1363

19B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Dudkash Industrial Minerals Area of Interest..................... 1382

19C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Dudkash Industrial Minerals Area of Interest ............................................ 1401

20A. Summary of the Ghunday-Achin Magnesite and Talc Area of Interest........................................................ 1420

20B. Geohydrologic Summary of the Ghunday-Achin Magnesite and Talc Area of Interest................................ 1435

21A. Summary of the Khanneshin Carbonatite Area of Interest .......................................................................... 1455

21B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Khanneshin Carbonatite Area of Interest .......................... 1476

21C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Khanneshin Carbonatite Area of Interest .................................................. 1500

22A. Summary of the Kunduz Celestite Area of Interest ..................................................................................... 1521

22B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Kunduz Celestite Area of Interest...................................... 1535

22C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Kunduz Celestite Area of Interest ............................................................. 1550

23A. Summary of the North Herat Barium and Limestone Area of Interest ......................................................... 1568

23B. Hyperspectral Mapping Analysis of parts of the North Herat Barium and Limestone Area of Interest......... 1580

23C. Geohydrologic Summary of the North Herat Barium and Limestone Area of Interest ................................. 1610

24A. Summary of the Nuristan Pegmatite Area of Interest.................................................................................. 1630

24B. Geohydrologic Summary of the Nuristan Pegmatite Area of Interest.......................................................... 1654

25A. Summary of the South Helmand Travertine Area of Interest....................................................................... 1673

25B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the South Helmand Travertine Area of Interest....................... 1725

25C. Geohydrologic Summary of the South Helmand Travertine Area of Interest............................................... 1741

26A. Summary of the Takhar Evaporite Area of Interest ..................................................................................... 1760

26B. Analysis of Imaging Spectrometer Data for the Takhar Evaporite Area of Interest ..................................... 1776

26C. Geohydrologic Summary of the Takhar Evaporite Area of Interest ............................................................. 1795
v

Appendixes

[The appendixes are not printed. A DVD in the pocket of volume I contains the whole report, including appendixes 1–3]

Appendix 1. Inventory Spreadsheets for Data Packages Compiled for Each Area of Interest.

Appendix 2. Streamflow Statistics at Ungaged Sites in Areas of Interest.

Appendix 3. Groundwater Hydrographs at or Near Areas of Interest.
Conversion Factors

Multiply By To obtain

 Length

millimeter (mm) 0.03937 inch (in.)

centimeter (cm) 0.3937 inch (in.)

meter (m) 3.281 foot (ft) 

kilometer (km) 0.6214 mile (mi)

 Area

2 square centimeter (cm )

2 square meter (m )

2 square kilometer (km )

0.1550

10.76

247.1

square inch (in2) 

square foot (ft2) 

acre

 Volume

3 cubic meter (m ) 35.31 cubic foot (ft3

)

 Flow rate

3 cubic meter per second (m /s) 70.07 acre-foot per day (acre-ft/d) 

cubic meter per second per square kilometer 2 [(m3

/s)/km ] 

91.49 cubic foot per second per square mile 

[(ft3/s)/mi2] 

 Mass

gram (g) 0.03527 ounce avoirdupois (oz)

kilogram (kg) 2.205 pound avoirdupois (lb)

megagram (Mg) [metric ton (t)] (1,000 kg) 1.102 ton, short (2,000 lb)

Temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) may be converted to degrees Fahrenheit (°F) as follows:

°F=(1.8×°C)+32

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) may be converted to degrees Celsius (°C) as follows:

°C=(°F-32)/1.8

vi