U.S. Geologists Discover $1 Trillion in Mineral Deposits in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON June 14, 2010 -- U.S. geologists have concluded that Afghanistan, one of the world's poorest countries after 30 years of violence and war, lies atop a bonanza of mineral riches that could transform it into a wealthy nation.

The world class deposits of copper, iron ore and some other fairly exotic minerals have been estimated by the U.S. Geological Survey, which has been working to identify resources in Afghanistan, at more than $1 trillion.

But those riches which could help end the country's vicious cycle of poverty and even more vicious cycle of war may remain tantalizingly out of reach over the next few years.

"Turning the potential of Afghanistan's mineral wealth into actual revenue will take years," State Department spokesman PJ Crowley said today. "And mineral extraction faces numerous, but not insurmountable challenges."

American officials have long said that Afghanistan must develop long term sustainable economic sources of income that would provide a larger revenue stream so it can provide government services and security for itself after NATO forces leave.

Under Secretary for Defense Policy Michele Flournoy told a Congressional panel a few weeks ago, "We are working with the Afghan ministries on long-term economic development ... they're very rich in strategic minerals and resources, very rich in agriculture, helping them to develop sustainable long-term sources of income for the nation."

Geologists from the U.S. Geological Survey have been working in Afghanistan for the past couple of years surveying locations across the country and have concluded that it contains vast mineral deposits. A Pentagon task force that has helped to develop Iraq's long term economic viability has been working with Afghan ministries to begin the process of helping them with the expertise some believe could turn Afghanistan into one of the world's most important mining centers.

U. S. Central Command's Gen. David Petraeus described Afghanistan's mineral resources in a radio interview last December with ABC News.

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"It has some of the world's remaining unexploited world class deposits of copper, iron ore and some other fairly exotic minerals. And it has some limited natural gas. The estimates of the worth of these deposits are quite substantial," he said.

Petraeus told a Congressional committee three months ago that what makes these deposits valuable is that they are "a couple of the only world-class fields left."