The communities in and around Hajigak are inhabited by people who may be categorized in the lower strata of economic well‐being according to their level of vulnerability. The people of the region are poor.6 Farmers use oxen to plough land for cultivation. People have few skills and require assistance in education and skill development.7 The area experiences seven months of harsh winter and a five‐month summer. The harsh climate is adequate only for the cultivation of carrots, potatoes, poor quality wheat and a few other crops. Harvests occur at the whim of the weather. Harvests are sm
There are around 300 documented copper deposits, occurrences and showings in Afghanistan as shown in Figure 1. A variety of styles of copper mineralisation occur in rocks ranging in age from Proterozoic to Neogene. These include sediment-hosted, skarn, porphyry, and vein-hosted, as well as other types. The largest and best-known copper discovery in Afghanistan is the world-class Aynak stratabound deposit hosted within Vendian-Cambrian quartz-biotite-dolomite metasedimentary rocks 30 km south-south-east of Kabul.
In Afghanistan rare metals (lithium, caesium, tantalum and niobium) occur in three main deposit types: pegmatites, mineralised springs and playa-lake sediments (Figure 1). The most potentially significant, easily extractable resources of rare metals in Afghanistan occur in mineralised springs and playas, although there is also considerable potential for exploiting hard-rock pegmatite deposits. Globally, rare metals
The aim of the IEDS research paper series is to provide clear and timely empirical analysis on issues of relevance to our mandate that covers three broad areas: A) Borderlands, B) Pragmatic Peace and C) Resource Values. All papers are reviewed internally and externally for quality control. We are open to various disciplinary perspectives on issues and particularly encourage work that spans fields of enquiry. Submission is encouraged from scholars worldwide who want a flexible electronic venue for their work.
Major redevelopment projects in Afghanistan are placing large demands on the minerals industry, which is struggling to keep pace. Clive Mitchell and Antony Benham report on the revival of the country’s industrial minerals industry
IT iS a privilege for me to draw your attention to this Mining Journal special supplement on Afghanistan. Mining in Afghanistan has a history dating back over 6,000 years, and despite all the upheavals over the past 25 years, mining has continued to operate. The main task facing us now is to expand the industry from its present small base. The Government regards the development of Afghanistan’s natural resources as the most impor- tant driver of economic growth, and essential to the reconstruction and development of the country.
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) has made welcome public pledges to transparency and good governancein its emerging mining sector. This paper considers how Afghanistan’s first mining concession contracts will support these commitments.
The Government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (GIRoA) has made welcome public pledges to transparency and good governancein its emerging mining sector. This paper considers how Afghanistan’s first mining concession contracts will support these commitments.
A recent study released by the U.S. Geological Survey and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Industry estimates that Afghanistan’s natural reserves have the potential to produce over 1.6 billion barrels of oil over 15 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in the near term1. Furthermore, Afghanistan contains significant deposits of precious and semi‐precious stones, including emerald, jade, lapis lazuli, ruby, sapphire, alabaster, quartz and tourmaline.2 Given the likely magnitude of these reserves, companies with industry expertise may find investing in Afghanistan’s natural resources
“Mineral resource development today can affect a nation for many years, sometimes for gene- rations to come. Consequently, the award of mineral rights can be one of the most far-reaching activities a government undertakes.”1 Is Afghanistan in a position to reap the profits of its natural resources to the benefit of all its people?
The United States Association for Energy Economics and the International Association for Energy Economics have established this working paper series for the purpose of sharing members’ latest research findings and to facilitate the exchange of ideas. Papers included in the series have been approved for circulation by USAEE/IAEE but have not been formally edited or peer reviewed. The findings and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual author(s) and do not represent the official position or view of the USAEE/IAEE.
