Afghanistan has mineral resources that should help its economy

Washington Times:

A three-year study has found vast mineral resources in Afghanistan, boosting hopes for an early economic recovery in the insurgency-troubled country, a survey says.

The survey, conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Afghanistan Geological Survey, found enough copper to meet world needs for three years and enough cobalt to supply the world for a decade, Bill Werkheiser, the associate director for geology at the USGS said earlier this week.

"Afghanistan is blessed with a wealth of mineral resources," said Mr. Werkheiser.

He said the survey, conducted from 2004 to 2007, had turned up a total of 31 metal, industrial mineral and building material deposits including rubies, emeralds, sapphires and other gemstones.

"Afghanistan's natural resources have a quality comparable to the highest-class minerals of the entire region," said Said Jawad, Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States.

Members of the Afghan-American Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Agency for International Development are hoping foreign businesses will be influenced by this discovery and invest in Afghanistan.

...

The amount of the minerals appears to be commercially reasonable to mine, provided that the miners can get them safely. Copper has become somewhat scarce in recent years and cobalt is also a valuable commodity. Perhaps it can help pull the country out of the drug business.

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