Prepared in cooperation with the Afghanistan Geological Survey under the auspices of the U.S. Agency for International Development

Preliminary Assessment of Non-Fuel Mineral Resources 

of Afghanistan, 2007

The U.S. Geological 

Survey and Afghanistan 

Geological Survey 

estimated numbers of 

undiscovered deposits 

in Afghanistan by using 

geology-based assessment methodology. 

Estimates of known and 

undiscovered copper 

resources total nearly 

60 million metric tons 

of copper. Resources 

of iron in known 

deposits are more than 

2,200 million metric 

tons of iron ore. Twenty 

mineralized areas were 

identified that merit 

further study and may 

contain resources 

amenable to rapid 

development.

Pakistan

Turkmenistan

Uzbekistan Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan

Pakistan

India

China

Iran

HERAT

FARAH

GHOR

BADAKHSHAN

ORUZGAN

GHAZNI

BALKH

FARYAB

ZABUL

BAGHLAN

SARIPUL

BAMYAN

TAKHAR

PARVAN

WARDAK

SAMANGAN

KUNDUZ

NURISTAN

KUNAR

KHOST

PAKTIA

KABUL

LOGAR

JAWZJAN

BADGHIS

NANGARHAR

PAKTIKA

KAPISA

LAGHMAN

NIMROZ KANDAHAR

HELMAND

1 Aynak

2 Haji Gak

3 Afghan-Tajik Basin

4 Panjsher Valley

1

2

3 4

62 66 70 74

38

34

30

EXPLANATION

Known Resources

0 100 200 KILOMETERS

0 30 60 90 120 150 MILES

Promising mineralized

 areas

Non-fuel minerals

Asbestos-talc-magnesite

Barite

Bauxite

Celestite

Chromite

Clay

Glass sand

Graphite

Igneous-related copper

Igneous-related iron

Igneous-related lead and zinc

Lapis lazuli

Lode gold

Pegmatite

Placer gold

Sand and gravel

Sedimentary copper

Sedimentary iron

Sedimentary lead and

 zinc

Stone

Sulfur

Figure 1.  Map of Afghanistan showing mineralized areas recommended for further study (rectangular areas), known non-fuel mineral 

deposits and prospects (small dots), and selected mineral deposits for which resources have been published in the past (various symbols).

Introduction Afghanistan Geological Survey (AGS) to of all types. Quantitative probabilistic 

assess the non-fuel mineral resources of estimates were made for undiscovered 

A Afghanistan as part of the effort to aid in deposits of copper, mercury, rare-earth fghanistan has abundant the reconstruction of that country. elements, sulfur, chromite, asbestos, pot- mineral resources, including An assessment is an estimation or ash, graphite, and sand and gravel. These known deposits of copper, iron, barite, evaluation, in this instance of undiscov- estimates were made for undiscovered sulfur, talc, chromium, magnesium, salt, ered non-fuel mineral resources. Min- deposits at depths less than a kilometer. mica, marble, rubies, emeralds, lapis eral resources are materials that are in Other deposit types were considered and lazuli, asbestos, nickel, mercury, gold such form that economic extraction of discussed in the assessment, but quantita- and silver, lead, zinc, fluorspar, bauxite, a commodity is currently or potentially tive estimates of numbers of undiscov- beryllium, and lithium (fig. 1). Between feasible. In this assessment, teams of ered deposits were not made. In addition, 2005 and 2007, the U.S. Agency for scientists from the USGS and the AGS the assessment resulted in the delineation International Development (USAID) compiled information about known min- of 20 mineralized areas for further study, funded a cooperative study by the U.S. eral deposits and then evaluated the pos- of which several may contain resources Geological Survey (USGS) and the sible occurrence of undiscovered deposits amenable to rapid development.

U.S. Department of the Interior Fact Sheet 2007–3063

U.S. Geological Survey October 2007
Resource Summary deposits could also contain epithermal resulted in a mean expected value of 

precious-metal deposits. 980,000 metric tons of chromium oxide. 

Known resources of gold total about Asbestos deposits related to mafic 

Metals 1,780 kilograms (kg) in lode deposits igneous rocks are also present in Logar 

and 918 kg in placer deposits. Additional and Khost Provinces. Estimation of 

Sediment-hosted copper deposits at deposits are probable, and exploitation undiscovered asbestos deposits resulted 

Aynak contain known resources of more of small- to medium-sized gold deposits in a mean expected value of 13.4 million 

than 12.3 million metric tons of copper. could provide a source of local industry metric tons of asbestos. 

Undiscovered sediment-hosted copper and employment. Graphite is present in a number of 

deposits similar to Aynak in nearby areas Lead and zinc deposits in Afghani- small occurrences in northeastern Afghancould contain a mean of 17 million metric stan contain a known resource of about istan. The known resource totals about 

tons of copper and 600,000 metric tons of 244,000 metric tons of combined lead and 5,000 metric tons of graphite. Undiscovcobalt. The total (known and undiscov- zinc. Both igneous-related and sediment- ered graphite deposits may be present, and 

ered) amount of sediment-hosted copper hosted deposit types are present. an expected mean value of 1 million metof nearly 30 million metric tons would be Tin and tungsten may be present ric tons of flake graphite was estimated.

the largest nonferrous metal resource in in potentially important amounts. More Known resources of additional indusAfghanistan. Known resources in copper knowledge about igneous rock composi- trial mineral commodities are present, 

deposits related to plutonic rocks (chiefly tions in Afghanistan could permit a more but estimation of undiscovered deposits 

skarn deposits) are about 70,000 met- detailed assessment. will require further study (table 1). Barite, 

ric tons of copper, along with auxiliary Known bauxite deposits in Afghani- halite, gypsum, celestite, fluorite, talc and 

amounts of gold, lead, and zinc. Porphyry stan contain a resource of about 4.5 mil- magnesite, and clays are abundant enough 

copper deposits also contain important lion metric tons of bauxite that contains to support local industries. Pegmatite 

copper resources. Twelve permissive about 50 percent alumina and 12 percent fields, principally in northeastern Afghanitracts for porphyry copper deposits were silica. stan, contain a variety of commodities, 

delineated. They were estimated to contain such as lithium, beryllium, quartz, felda mean of 8 undiscovered porphyry copper spars, mica, gemstones, tantalum, niodeposits containing 28.5 million metric Industrial Minerals bium, and cesium. Exploitation of these 

tons of copper, 724,000 metric tons of pegmatite deposits could support local A number of industrial minerals were molybdenum, 682 metric tons of gold, and glass, chemical, or artisanal industries. assessed in Afghanistan, and undiscovered 9,100 metric tons of silver. Thus, the total Gemstones are present in many of deposits of several commodities are likely copper resource in Afghanistan is esti- the numerous pegmatite deposits and to be present in sufficient quantities to mated to be nearly 60 million metric tons include tourmaline, kunzite, garnet, and support local industries. of copper. ruby. Nonpegmatite gemstone deposits are Undiscovered potash-bearing bedded Known iron deposits are contained present in northeastern Afghanistan. These halite deposits in northern Afghanistan in both sedimentary and igneous rocks. include emerald deposits in the Panjsher may contain important amounts of potash. Sedimentary iron deposits are abundant Valley and other ruby, sapphire, spinel, Estimation of undiscovered deposits in central Afghanistan and the Haji Gak and lapis lazuli occurrences in northeast- resulted in a mean expected value of iron deposit (approximately 2,100 million ern Afghanistan. Peridot is also known to 27.5 million metric tons of potash. metric tons of ore at between 63 and be present along the Afghanistan-Pakistan Sulfur is present in two known 69 weight percent iron) is of world-class border. Many areas contain sufficient deposits that contain about 450,000 metric size. This deposit is large enough to sup- amounts of gemstones to support local tons of sulfur. Probabilistic estimates for port a major mining operation. Additional industries.

undiscovered bedded sulfur deposits in resources in a number of sedimentary rocks of the Afghan-Tajik Basin result in deposits near Haji Gak bring the total a mean expected value of 6 million metric resource for Afghanistan to about Building Materials

tons of sulfur. 2,260 million metric tons of iron ore with Rare-earth elements (REE) and Building materials are present in grades higher than 62 weight percent iron. uranium are present in Helmand Province, quantities sufficient to support local Additional resources in similar deposits associated with a carbonatite body. Esti- construction industries. The mountains of are likely. Igneous-related deposits are mates of undiscovered deposits resulted Afghanistan contain abundant rock types known to contain 178 million metric in a mean expected value of 1.4 million suitable for use as building and decorative tons of ore with grades between 47 and metric tons of REE and 3.48 million met- stone, such as granite, limestone, marble, 68 weight percent iron with potential ric tons of niobium. Important amounts sandstone, and travertine (table 1). byproducts of sulfur, phosphorous, nickel, of phosphorous, uranium, thorium, barite, Limestone deposits suitable for and manganese. Additional study is neces- fluorspar, and nepheline could also be cement production are widespread in sary to correctly classify Haji Gak and associated with such deposits. Afghanistan, and deposits suitable for permit a more detailed assessment. Chromite deposits are present in exploitation have been identified in Bada- Undiscovered hot-spring mercury Logar and Khost Provinces, and known khshan, Herat, and Baghlan Provinces. deposits in Afghanistan may contain about resources are approximately 200,000 met- Afghanistan also has abundant sand 32,000 metric tons of mercury, which ric tons of ore with a grade of about and gravel resources. Material adequate is sufficient to support a local mercury 43 weight percent chromium oxide. Esti- for local industry is present adjacent to industry. The areas containing mercury mation of undiscovered chromite deposits most existing population centers.
Table 1.  Summary of known resources and estimated undiscovered resources for selected commodities in Afghanistan identified by the 

U.S. Geological Survey–Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team. 

3 [Values in metric tons unless otherwise indicated; kg, kilogram; m , cubic meter; wt. %, weight percent; approx., approximately]

USGS-AGS assessment of Known resource estimates from Commodity Province Deposit type undiscovered deposits Abdullah and others (1977) (mean expected values)

Metals

Aluminum Zabul, Baghlan bauxite 4,535,000 (bauxite at 50.5 wt. % Further study recommended

alumina and 12 wt. % silica)

Copper Kabul, Logar sediment-hosted 12,340,600 16,880,000 (copper);

copper 600,000 (cobalt)

Kandahar, Zabul, igneous-related 68,500 28,469,200 (copper); 724,010 

Herat copper (molybdenum); 682 (gold); 

9,067 (silver)

Gold Takhar, Ghazni placer gold 918 kg Further study recommended

Badakhshan, lode gold approx. 1,780 kg Further study recommended

Ghazni, Zabul

Iron Bamyan, Baghlan sediment-hosted 2.26 billion ( > 62 wt. % iron) Further study recommended

iron

Badakhshan, igneous-related 178,000,000 (at between 47 and 68 Further study recommended

Kandahar iron wt. % iron)

Lead and zinc Kandahar, Herat, igneous-related 90,000 (combined lead and zinc) Further study recommended

Paktia lead and zinc

Ghor sediment-hosted 153,900 (combined lead and zinc) Further study recommended

lead and zinc

Mercury Farah, Ghor hot-spring May contain gold and silver 32,000

mercury

Tin and Herat, Farah, tin veins, tin and No previous estimate Further study recommended

tungsten Oruzgan tungsten skarns 

and greisen

Industrial Minerals

Barite Parvan, Herat bedded and vein 151,500,000 Further study recommended

barite

Brick clay Kabul clay 2,200,000 m3 Further study recommended

Celestite Baghlan, Kunduz celestite > 1,000,000 (at 75 wt. %) Further study recommended

Chromite Logar, Paktia chromium oxide approx. 200,000 (at about 43 wt. %) 980,000 (chromium oxide)

Fluorite Oruzgan fluorspar 8,791,000 (ore averaging 46.69 wt. %) Further study recommended

Graphite Badakhshan disseminated flake 5,000 1,050,000 (flake graphite)

graphite

Halite North Afghanistan evaporite No previous estimate Further study recommended

Kaolin Baghlan residual kaolin 100,000 to 150,000 (clay) Further study recommended

Baghlan sedimentary 385,000 (clay) Further study recommended

kaolin

Lazurite Badakhshan skarn lazurite 1,300 Further study recommended

Potash Balkh, Samangan, evaporite No previous estimate 27,514,000

Kunduz

Rare-earth Helmand carbonatite No previous estimate 1,405,000 (REE), 3,480,000 

elements (niobium and phosphorous, 

(REE) uranium and thorium)

Sulfur Balkh, Badakhshan bedded and 450,000 6,000,000

fumerolic

Talc, asbestos, Nangarhar metasomatic/ 1,250,000 (talc); Further study recommended

and magnesite metamorphic 31,200 (magnesite)

replacement 

magnesite

Nangarhar ultramafic-hosted 50,000 (mined previously) 13,400,000 (asbestos)

talc magnesite
Table 1.  Summary of known resources and estimated undiscovered resources for selected commodities in Afghanistan identified by the 

U.S. Geological Survey–Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team. — Continued

[Values in metric tons unless otherwise indicated; kg, kilogram; m3, cubic meter; wt. %, weight percent; approx., approximately]

USGS-AGS assessment of Known resource estimates from Commodity Province Deposit type undiscovered deposits Abdullah and others (1977) (mean expected values)

Building Materials

Aragonite Helmand dimension stone 770,000 Further study recommended

Dolomite Bamyan building stone 1,040,000 Further study recommended

Glass sand Balkh sand 110,000 (siliceous sand); Further study recommended

10,900,000 (sandstone)

Limestone Bamyan building stone 3,500,000 Further study recommended

Badakhshan, Herat, cement and flux > 500,000,000 Further study recommended

and Baghlan

Marble Various building stone 1.3 billion (coarsely crystalline Further study recommended

marble)

Sand and Badakhshan aggregate 136,000,000 m3 Further study recommended

gravel

Sandstone Bamyan building stone 650,000 (siliceous sandstone) Further study recommended

Further Information References Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, 

G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., and 

Rytuba, J.J., eds., and the U.S. Geo- Supporting geologic studies of min- Abdullah, Sh., Chmyriov, V.M., Stazhilo- logical Survey–Afghanistan Ministry eralized systems and assessment areas Alekseev, K.F., Dronov, V.I., Gannon, of Mines Joint Mineral Resource and reports on the methodology used in P.J., Lubemov, B.K., Kafarskiy, A.Kh., Assessment Team, 2007, Preliminary this study are in progress. Assessment and Malyarov, E.P., 1977, Mineral d non-fuel mineral resource assess- results are available at the USGS Afghan- resources of Afghanistan (2 ed.): ment of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological istan website (http://afghanistan.cr.usgs. Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Indus- Survey Open-File Report 2007–1214, gov) and at the Afghanistan Geological tries of the Democratic Republic of 810 p., 1 CD–ROM and 1 DVD, also Survey website (http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ Afghanistan, Afghan Geological and available online at http://pubs.usgs. afghanminerals). Mines Survey, United Nations Devel- gov/of/2007/1214/ (accessed October opment Programme Support Project 2007).

U.S. Geological Survey– AFG/74/12, 419 p.

Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Doebrich, J.L., and Wahl, R.R., comJoint Mineral Resource pilers, 2006, Geologic and mineral The USGS Afghanistan Project

resource map of Afghanistan: U.S. Assessment Team This report is USGS Afghanistan Geological Survey Open-File Report Project Product No. 158. 2006–1038, 1 sheet, scale 1:850,000, Stephen G. Peters1

 (Team Leader; available only online at http://pubs. This study was funded by an inter- speters@usgs.gov), Stephen D. Luding- usgs.gov/of/2006/1038/ (accessed agency agreement between the 

ton1

, Greta J. Orris1, David M. Sutphin1, 

James D. Bliss1, James J. Rytuba1 October 2007). U.S. Agency for International , Jared Development and the U.S. Geological Abraham1

, Mohammad Bashir2, Robert Mars, J.C., and Rowan, L.C., 2007, Map- Survey. G. Bohannon1

, Karen S. Bolm1, Jeff L. ping phyllic and argillic-altered rocks 

Doebrich1, Robert G. Eppinger1, Carol in southeastern Afghanistan using 

A. Finn1, Bernard E. Hubbard1, Keith advanced spaceborne thermal emission For more information on the nonR. Long1

, John C. Mars1, Mohammad and reflection radiometer (ASTER) fuel mineral resources program in 

Saleh2

, Lawrance W. Snee1, Douglas B. data: U.S. Geological Survey Open- Afghanistan, contact:

Stoeser1

, Cliff D. Taylor1, Abdul Wasy2, File Report 2007–1006, 1 sheet, avail- Stephen G. Peters  Gulraihan Waziri2 , Mohammad Omar able only online at http://pubs.usgs.

Younusi2 U.S. 2  Geological Survey  , and Mohammad Asif Yousof . gov/of/2007/1006/ (accessed October 954 National Center  2007). Reston, VA 20192 

703-648-6348 

speters@usgs.gov

1

U.S. Geological Survey, U.S.A.

2

Afghanistan Geological Survey, Afghanistan Ministry of Mines, Kabul, Afghanistan.