2200

2200

2300

2400

2300

2400

2500

2600

3000

3000

2500

2700

2400

2300

2400

2800

2800

2500

2600

2400

2900

2900

2900

2700

2600

2400

2700 3300

2700

2800

2700

2600

2600

3200

3000

2500

3100

3000

3000

2500

2700

2700

2700

2600

2500

2500

3100

2700

2800

2700

2600

2600

2200

2200

2100

2800

2800

2900

2600

2700

2800

2600

2700

2800

2600

2500

2500

2600

2500

2400

2300

2300

2500

2600

2700

2400

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2500

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2400

2300

2700

2600

2700

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2400

2500

2500

2400

2300

2800

2500

2700

2800

2500

2200

2200

2600

2600

2700

2800

2900

2500

2900

2300

2600

2500

2400

2800

2900

2600

Belaw gold

Unnamed gold

Utkul gold

Bolo gold

Anguri

copper

Kareztu

gold

Kareztu

tin

Alaghzar

Stone

Zardak gold

Khinjaktu tin

Maghn tin

Khinfaktu gold

Sufi-Kademi

gold

Dynamic gold

Mugar gold

Chon-i-Surkh

gold

Basharghar tin

Mirzaka tin

Tangi

lead-zinc

Gulyakhel

gold

A

A’

Zarkashan

gold deposit

A A’

Anguri Sekandar

Molakhel

Soleman

Alaghzar

Daman

Gardan

Nyaqul

Belaw

Karez

Sayedan

Nawdeh

Galaband

Aghele

Khusmorad

Abdullah Kala

Laskar Kala

Cergan

Cambara

Kareztu

Sangar

Ghunday

Bastankhel

Lar Kalay

Petaw

Qulukhsa

Utkul

U

D

U

D

U

D

U

D

U

U

D

D

U

D

U

D

U

D

40

30

30

40

40

25

25 60

75

20

18

30

25

35

20

20

50

20

25

20

40

30

30

16

16

18

25

50

50

10

10

30

20

20

75

Vein gold, undivided

Skarn gold (± copper)

Placer gold

Unclassified gold

Mississippi Valley-type lead-zinc

Skarn tin

Unclassified tin

Marble

METALLIC AND NONMETALLIC MINERALS

[Prospect name is shown next to symbol]

EXPLANATION OF MAP SYMBOLS

Contact—Dotted where inferred

Regional fault or fracture zone—Dashed where inferred. In cross 

section, arrows indicate relative movement

Fault or fracture—Showing dip. Dashed where inferred; U, upthrown 

side; D, downthrown side. In cross section, arrows indicate relative 

movement

Strike and dip of bedding

Dike vein complex, granite aplites, granosyenites, aplites—Located in 

area of Zarkashan gold deposit

Fossil collecting site

Gold sampling site from Meshcheryakov and Sayapin 

(1968b)—Showing number of gold grains counted in a sample; color 

tint identifies sample collected in 1967; nc, no count

Outline of grab sampling area (USGS, 2010)

Regional synclinal axis—Showing direction of plunge

Ancient pit

Road

Town or village

DESCRIPTION OF MAP UNITS

Alluvium and colluvium fan deposits (Holocene and late 

Pleistocene)Ñ Fans of alluvium and colluvium: platy and detrital 

sediments, gravel, sand, clay

IGNEOUS ROCKS

Granodiorite (Oligocene)Ñ Granodiorite (Phase I)

Gabbro and monzonite (Paleocene and Late Cretaceous)Ñ Gabbro, 

monzonite more abundant than diorite; granite, granosyenite, syenite 

porphyry, syenite

Adamellite

Gabbro, gabbrodiorite, and diorite

SEDIMENTARY ROCKS

Limestone and sandstone (Early Cretaceous (Aptian and 

Barremian))Ñ Limestone, marl, sandstone more abundant than 

conglomerate

Limestone conglomerate

Limestone and dolomite (Late Triassic (Norian and Carnian))Ñ 

Limestone, dolomite

Limestone and dolomite (Middle Triassic)Ñ Limestone, dolomite. 

Pattern shown in cross section only 

Limestone and dolomite (Middle and Early Triassic)Ñ Limestone, 

dolomite, marl

Limestone and dolomite (Late Permian)Ñ Limestone, dolomite more 

abundant than marl, conglomerate, sandstone, siltstone, shale, bauxite 

and bauxite-bearing rocks. Pattern shown in cross section only

Limestone, sandstone, siltstone, shale (Ordovician-Silurian?)

ALTERATION

Marble or partly dolomitized limestone

Garnet alteration

Contact-metamorphosed rock (hornfels)

INTRODUCTION

This map is a modified version of Geological map of the area of Zarkashan-Anguri 

gold deposits, scale 1:50,000 (Meshcheryakov and Sayapin, 1968a). The original map 

is one of several that accompany Soviet report no. R0657, which was prepared in 

cooperation with the Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of 

Afghanistan in Kabul in 1967Ð68 under contract number 1378. This modified map, 

which illustrates the geologic setting of the Zarkashan-Anguri copper and gold deposits, includes a cross section and displays gold sampling locations that were originally 

shown on the Heavy concentrate sampling map of Anguri-Zarkashan gold deposits 

area (Meshcheryakov and Sayapin, 1968b).

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

Soviet map and cross section and includes modifications based on our examination of 

that document and on observations made during a brief field visit in 2010. The 

description of map units, age designations, and unit colors have been modified to 

conform with Doebrich and Wahl (2006). Mineral symbols have been taken directly 

from Doebrich and Wahl (2006). Mineral prospect and deposit names have been 

added from Meshcheryakov and Sayapin (1968c) and Abdullah and others (1977). 

Elevations on the cross section are derived from the original Soviet topography and 

might not match the newer topography used on the current map. The map area was 

visited in April 2010 by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on a brief reconnaissance 

mission during which grab samples were collected and photographs taken. The grab 

sampling areas are shown on the map and the photographs are shown in figures 1Ð4. 

Table 1 contains sample descriptions and gold concentrations from one grab sampling 

area. Microscopic images of two of these samples are discussed in figures 5 and 6.

3000

2500

2000

3000

3500 3500

METERS METERS

NO VERTICAL EXAGGERATION

2500

2000

1500 1500

Modified from original compilation

of Meshcheryakov and Sayapin (1968a)

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32°58'N 32°58'N

67°42'E

67°42'E

67°31'E 67°33'E 67°36'E 67°39'E

67°31'E 67°33'E 67°36'E 67°39'E

32°55'N 32°55'N

32°52'N 32°52'N

REFERENCES

Abdullah, S., 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, scale 

1:500,000. [Prepared by V/O Technoexport U.S.S.R.] 

Abdullah, S., Chmyriov, V.M., Stazhilo-Alekseev, K.F., Dronov, V.I., Gannon, P.J., Lubemov, B.K., Kafarskiy, 

A.K., and Malyarov, E.P., 1977, Mineral resources of Afghanistan, 2d ed.: Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Afghan Geological and Mines Survey, United Nations Development Programme Support Project AFG/74/12, 419 p. 

Doebrich, J.L., and Wahl, R.R., comps., 2006, Geologic and mineral resource map of Afghanistan, version 2: U.S. 

Geological Survey Open-File Report 2006Ð1038, one sheet, scale 1:850,000; also available at 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2006/1038/.

Meshcheryakov, E.P, and Sayapin, V.P., 1968a, Geological map of the area of Zarkashan-Anguri gold deposits, in

Meshcheryakov, E.P, and Sayapin, V.P., Report about results of geological prospecting works at the Zarkashan 

deposit and placer in 1967 [and project of geological exploration for 1968]: Kabul, Ministry of Mines and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R0657, draft no. 2, one sheet, scale 1:50,000. [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.]

Meshcheryakov, E.P, and Sayapin, V.P., 1968b, Heavy concentrate sampling map of Anguri-Zarkashan gold deposits area, in Meshcheryakov, E.P, and Sayapin, V.P., Report about results of geological prospecting works at the 

Zarkashan deposit and placer in 1967 [and project of geological exploration for 1968]: Kabul, Ministry of Mines 

and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R0657, draft no. 3, one sheet, scale 1:50,000. 

[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.]

Meshcheryakov, E.P, and Sayapin, V.P., 1968c, Report about results of geological prospecting works at the 

Zarkashan deposit and placer in 1967 [and project of geological exploration for 1968]: Kabul, Ministry of Mines 

and Industries of the Royal Government of Afghanistan, report no. R0657, 92 p. [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.]

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 

SurveyÐA fghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team, 2007, Preliminary non-fuel 

mineral resource assessment of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007Ð1214, 810 p., 1 

CD-ROM disk and 1 DVD-ROM disk; also available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1214/.

ZR10001 Pyrrhotite sericite in hornfels 11,000

ZR10002 Malachite-stained skarn 9,460

ZR10003 Slate and malachite and chalcopyrite 1,770

ZR10004 Malachite-stained skarn and greisen 23,000

ZR10005 Malachite and skarn/slate 182,000

ZR10006 Black malachite-stained skarn 18,000

ZR10007 Pyrite-rich sericite hornfels 6,800

ZR10008 Sericite hornfels 6,400

ZR10009 Pyrite-rich skarn 70,000

ZR10010C Oxidized ore and pyrite 8,490

ZR10011 Oxide ore 13,000

ZR10012 Malachite-stained hornfels 35,000

ZR10013 Malachite-stained hornfels 88,000

ZR10014 Fibrous hematite 533

ZR10015B Hornfels (representative of background) 19,000

ZR10016 Malachite-stained hornfels 1,290

ZR10017 Pyrite-rich hornfels/skarn 11,000

ZR10018 Malachite-stained hornfels 6,240

Table 1.—Gold concentrations in grab samples collected from the Zarkashan gold 

deposit area by the USGS in April 2010. Collection area is outlined by the red box on the 

map. ppb, parts per billion.

Field No. Sample Description Gold (ppb)

Figure 1.—Igneous breccias from the Zardak gold prospect area. This may be an 

isolated dike or pipe intruded into the hornfels country rock. Field of view is approximately 30 cm. Photograph by Stephen G. Peters, USGS.

Figure 5.—Scanning electron microscope backscattered images of sample ZR10010C, which is a chalcopyrite-bearing diopside 

hornfels or skarn containing fairly widespread concentrations of the scapolite-group mineral meionite (not shown in images). This 

sample contains a large (about 200 μm wide), irregularly shaped bleb of free gold (see image A). Additionally, diopside and meionite 

appear cogenetic and stable with each other, and this particular diopside hornfels or skarn also contains minor amounts of quartz. 

The Au:Ag ratio in the gold bleb is about 5:2 on the basis of peak heights for each of the two elements. A, Free gold in the sample 

also is present as a number of small blebs in open spaces among diopside crystals. The textural relations also suggest that gold, chalcopyrite, sphene, and diopside, as well as meionite, may have been coexisting stably at one time prior to secondary alteration of much 

of the chalcopyrite to chalcocite. Though not much meionite is in the rock, where present it is in close textural association with 

unaltered chalcopyrite. B, Enlargement of the area of image A outlined by yellow box, showing that free gold must have been coexisting with chalcopyrite, rather than being a product of oxidation. Scale shown at bottom of images. Abbreviations used: Au, gold; Ag, 

silver. Images from Ted Theodore, USGS, August 2010, written commun.

Figure 6.—Scanning electron microscope backscattered images (A, C) and photomicrographs (B, D) of sample ZR10015B, which is a 

gold-bearing grossularite-diopside copper (chalcopyrite)-gold skarn. A, Gold grain between iron oxides and diopside. B, Growth zones of 

almost isotropic and low birefringent vesuvianite indicate a fluctuation of major-element ratios in fluids associated with its crystallization just 

prior to cessation of its growth. C, Gold grains inside chlorite-iron oxide matte, which is encased in skarn minerals, garnet, apatite, and 

diopside. D, Wider field of view of area shown in A in reflected-light polished section, in which gold grains are located with iron-oxide 

minerals between garnet and diopside grains. Scales in A and C shown at bottom of image. Abbreviations used: FX, iron oxide (mostly 

including silica and traces of copper); Cu, copper; Au, gold; Ag, silver; gar, garnet; diop, diopside; ves, vesuvianite. Images from Ted 

Theodore, USGS, August 2010, written commun.

Figure 2.—View of the Zarkashan gold deposit area looking northeast, showing pluton 

in the background (dark knobby rocks) and hornfels and skarn in the foreground. Red 

color coincides with mapped alteration zones and hyperspectral anomalies for goethite 

and sericite. Photograph by Stephen G. Peters, USGS.

Figure 4.—Iron-stained outcrop at the Belaw gold prospect area looking west into the 

village in the valley. Photograph by Stephen G. Peters, USGS.

Figure 3.—View of the Zarkashan gold deposit area looking southeast, showing 

trenches above the road and two major adits. Location is within the area of the red box 

shown on the map. Photograph by Stephen G. Peters, USGS.

A

C D

B

A B

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Afghan Geological Survey

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

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

OPEN-FILE REPORT 2011–1212

USGS Afghanistan Project Product No. 196

Geologic Map of the Zarkashan-Anguri Copper and Gold Deposits, Ghazni Province, Afghanistan, Modified From the 1968 Original Map Compilation of E.P. Meshcheryakov and V.P. Sayapin

Compiled by

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

2011

This map is available for sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, 

Box 25286, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225

For product and ordering information:

World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov; Telephone 1-888-ASK-USGS

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

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

Modified from original compilation of Meshcheryakov 

and Sayapin (1968a); see References

Topography and shaded relief derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal 

Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) 30-meter Global Digital Elevation 

Model (GDEM) data, 2009

Hydrography derived from ASTER GDEM data 

Projection and 60-second grid: Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM), zone 42 north

World Geodetic System (WGS) 1984 Datum

Printed on recycled paper 

Index map outlining USGS-Afghanistan 

mineral project areas. Area of this report 

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

SCALE 1: 40 000

1 1/ 2 0 1 2 3 MILES

1 .5 0 1 2 3 4 KILOMETERS

CONTOUR INTERVAL 50 METERS