500

500

500

1500

1000

1000

1000

1000

1000

2000

1500

1000

1500

1500

2000

2000

1000

1500

2500

2000

1500

1000

1000

1000

500

1500

Jan Bulaq

Pir Nakhchir

Kheshendeh-Ye Bala

Keshende

Mengeh Lek

Aqcheh

Balkh

Kholm

Dowlatabad

Qarchi Gak

Mazar-E Sharif

Shulgareh

UZBEKISTAN

TAJIKISTAN

TURKMENISTAN

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Q$a

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Q$a

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Q#a

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Q@loe Q@loe

Q@loe

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Q@loe

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Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe

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Q@loe

Q@loe

Q@loe Q@loe

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a

Q!a Q!a

N!>csl

N!>csl N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!>csl

N!=csl

N!=csl N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl N!=csl N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl

N!=csl N!=csl N!=csl

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K^!ld

K^!ld K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

K^!ld

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K^!ld K^!ld

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K@ssl

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K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

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K@ssl K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

K@ssl

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Q$a

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N!=csl

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K^!ld

K@ssl

K!ssc

Q@loe

Q#$a

Q#$e

Q!a

Q#a

Q#$a

Q$a

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N!=csl

^@csh

K@ssl

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K^!ld

Q$sm

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2966

3470

3870

3764 3766 3768 3770 3772

3662 3664 3666 3668 3670 3672

3560 3562 3564 3566 3568 3570

3460 3462 3464 3466 3468

2964

3360 3362 3364 3366 3368 3370

3260 3262 3264 3266 3268

3160 3162 3164 3166 3168

3060 3062 3064 3066

2960 2962

3674

3774

211

611

511

117 118

411

618

612 707

613

608 609 610

601 602 603 604 605 606 701 702 703 704

419 420 421 422 423 424 519 520 521 522

413 414 415 416 417 418 513 514 515 516 517

512

614

412 507 508 509 510

615

407 408 409 410

402 403 404 405 406 501 502 503 504 505 506

122 123 124 219 220 221 222 223 224 319 320 321

213 214 215 216 217 218 313 314 315

616 617

212

713

64°E 65°E

62°E 63°E

60°E 61°E

66°E 67°E 68°E 69°E

70°E 71°E 72°E

73°E

35°N

34°N

74°E 75°E 76°E

32°N

33°N

30°N

29°N

31°N

36°N

37°N

38°N

39°N

AGCHO 1:250,000-scale quadrangle

USGS/AGS 1:250,000-scale quadrangle

INDEX MAP EXPLANATION

3468

509

DATA SUMMARY

This map was produced from several larger digital datasets. Topography was 

derived from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 85-meter digital data. Gaps 

in the original dataset were filled with data digitized from contours on 1:200,000- 

scale Soviet General Staff Sheets (1978–1997). Contours were generated by cubic 

convolution averaged over four pixels using TNTmips1 surface-modeling capabilities. Cultural data were extracted from files downloaded from the Afghanistan Information Management Service (AIMS) Web site (http://www. aims.org.af). The AIMS 

files were originally derived from maps produced by the Afghanistan Geodesy and 

Cartography Head Office (AGCHO). Geologic data and the international boundary 

of Afghanistan were taken directly from Abdullah and Chmyriov (1977).

It is the primary intent of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to present the 

geologic data in a useful format while making them publicly available. These data 

represent the state of geologic mapping in Afghanistan as of 2005, although the 

original map was released in the late 1970s (Abdullah and Chmyriov, 1977). The 

USGS has made no attempt to modify original geologic map-unit boundaries and 

faults; however, modifications to map-unit symbology, and minor modifications to 

map-unit descriptions, have been made to clarify lithostratigraphy and to modernize 

terminology. The generation of a Correlation of Map Units (CMU) diagram required 

interpretation of the original data, because no CMU diagram was presented by 

Abdullah and Chmyriov (1977).

This map is part of a series that includes a geologic map, a topographic map, a 

Landsat natural-color-image map, and a Landsat false-color-image map for the 

USGS/AGS (Afghan Geological Survey) quadrangles shown on the index map. The 

maps for any given quadrangle have the same open-file number but a different letter 

suffix, namely, -A, -B, -C, and -D for the geologic, topographic, Landsat naturalcolor, and Landsat false-color maps, respectively. The present map series is to be 

followed by a second series, in which the geology is reinterpreted on the basis of 

analysis of remote-sensing data, limited fieldwork, and library research. The second 

series is to be produced by the USGS in cooperation with the AGS and AGCHO.

REFERENCE CITED

Abdullah, Sh., and Chmyriov, V.M., eds., 1977, Map of mineral resources of 

Afghanistan: Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Democratic Republic 

of Afghanistan, Department of Geological and Mineral Survey, V/O “Technoexport” USSR, scale 1:500,000.

1

Geospatial analysis software developed by MicroImages, Inc., Lincoln, NE 68508-2010.

 EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

Contact

Fault—Dashed where approximately located; dotted where concealed

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Conglomerate and sandstone (Holocene)—Alluvium: shingly and 

detrital sediments, gravel, sand more abundant than silt and clay

Salt marsh deposits (Holocene)—Mud, silt, and clay more abundant 

than sand; limestone, gypsum, and salt

Conglomerate and sandstone (Holocene and late Pleistocene)— 

Alluvium: shingly and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more abundant 

than silt and clay

Eolian deposits (Holocene and late Pleistocene)—Sand

Conglomerate and sandstone (late Pleistocene)—Alluvium: shingly 

and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more abundant than silt and clay

Loess (middle Pleistocene)—Loess more abundant than sand, clay

Conglomerate and sandstone (early Pleistocene)—Alluvium: shingly 

and detrital sediments, gravel, sand more abundant than silt and clay

Clay and siltstone (middle Miocene)—Brown clay, siltstone more 

abundant than sandstone, conglomerate, limestone

Clay and siltstone (early Miocene)—Red clay, siltstone more abundant 

than sandstone, conglomerate, limestone

Clay and shale (Eocene)—Clay, shale, siltstone more abundant than 

sandstone, limestone, marl, gypsum, conglomerate

Limestone and dolomite (Paleocene and Late Cretaceous)— 

Limestone, marl, dolomite more abundant than sandstone, clay, 

siltstone, gypsum, conglomerate

Sandstone and siltstone (Late Cretaceous)—Sandstone, siltstone more 

abundant than clay, limestone, marl, conglomerate, gypsum

Sandstone and conglomerate (Early Cretaceous)—Red sandstone, 

conglomerate more abundant than siltstone, gypsum, clay 

CRETACEOUS

PALEOGENE

NEOGENE 

QUATERNARY

CORRELATION OF MAP UNITS

SEDIMENTARY VOLCANIC/MIXED

SCALE 1:250 000

CONTOUR INTERVAL 100 METERS

5 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 KILOMETERS

5 0 5 10 15 20 MILES

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

MINISTRY OF M INES AND INDUSTRIES

THE HEAD OFFIC E OF GEODESY & CARTOGRAPHY

AFGHAN GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Afghanistan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office

Under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency

USGS OPEN-FILE REPORT 2005-1093-A

AGS OPEN-FILE REPORT (213/214/219/220) 2005-1093-A

USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 114

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

GEOLOGIC MAP OF QUADRANGLES 3666 AND 3766, BALKH (219), MAZAR-I-SHARIF (220), QARQIN (213), AND 

HAZARA TOGHAI (214) QUADRANGLES, AFGHANISTAN

Compiled by

Ronald R. Wahl

2005 

Base from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) 

85-meter digital data

Cultural data from digital files from AIMS Web site 

(http://www.aims.org.af)

Projection: Universal Transverse Mercator, zone 42, WGS 

84 Datum

Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive 

purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. 

Government.

36° 00'

66° 00'

37° 30'

66° 00'

15'

15'

15'

15'

15'

67° 00' 15'

67° 00'

36° 00'

68° 00'

37° 30'

68° 00'

30'

30' 30'

30'

30' 30'

37° 00' 37° 00'

15' 15'

45'

45'

45'

45'

45'

45'