China Helps Afghanistan Develop Its Mining Industry

Afghanistan is known as the "Saudi Arabia of Lithium," with mineral resources worth trillions of dollars.

Recently, the Afghan Taliban's Foreign Ministry stated that China hopes to invest in mining in Afghanistan and have Kabul formally join its "Belt and Road Initiative."

"China plans to start actual mining activities this year (the world's largest copper mine, Aynak, will officially start production by the end of the year)," the Afghan statement said.

Analysts point out that this poor country is rich in abundant mineral resources such as lithium, copper, and iron.

According to a report released by the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, beneath the depths of this one of the poorest countries in the world lies at least $1 trillion in untapped mineral resources. This South Asian country with 38 million people is estimated to have over 2.2 billion tons of iron ore, 1.3 billion tons of marble, and 1.4 million tons of rare earth minerals.

What Lies Underground?

In the 1960s and 1970s, the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies conducted extensive surveys of Afghanistan's geological resources. However, decades of war have left most of these resources buried.

In 2010, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Afghan Geological Survey (AGS) conducted the most comprehensive geological survey of the country, identifying 24 specific areas of interest (AOIs) across 34 provinces of Afghanistan.

Heavy Metals

Iron is the most abundant heavy metal in Afghanistan. The total reserves of iron ore are estimated at 2.2 billion tons, placing Afghanistan among the top 10 countries in terms of extractable iron.

The Hajigak iron deposit in Afghanistan is located 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Kabul in the mountainous Bamiyan province, where it has the largest iron deposit in the region, containing 1.7 billion tons of high-grade ore with an iron content of 63%-69%.

It is estimated that Afghanistan also has 183 million tons of bauxite, mainly located in Badakhshan and Kandahar provinces. This lightweight metal is the second most used metal globally, after iron.

Precious Metals

Afghanistan also has estimated gold deposits of 2,698 kilograms in two major gold belts: from southwest Badakhshan to Takhar, and from southwest Ghazni to Zabul.

Building Materials

Afghanistan is the eighth-largest mountainous country in the world, with many regions difficult to access. The Hindu Kush Himalayas span the northeastern part of this landlocked country, containing various minerals and stones, including marble, limestone, and sandstone, widely used in construction.

Marble is a versatile rock often used in architecture and sculpture.

Limestone and sandstone are common types of sedimentary rocks used in construction. Limestone is an important component of cement and a main ingredient in household products like toothpaste and paint.

It is estimated that Afghanistan has at least 500 million tons of limestone, mainly distributed in Badakhshan, Herat, and Baghlan provinces.

Industrial Minerals

Historically, Afghanistan was one of the main sources of lapis lazuli, emerald, and ruby in the world, with most of the gems produced in the northeastern part of the country.

Afghanistan is estimated to have 1.4 million tons of rare metals and rare earth minerals, including lithium (used in batteries), uranium (used for nuclear fuel), and many other minerals. One of the largest rare earth deposits can be found in Khanneshin in Helmand province.

It is estimated that Afghanistan also has 152 million tons of barite, a colorless mineral commonly used in drilling for the oil and gas industry.

Sources: Combined from aljazeera and rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1841069019649024/

Statement: The article represents the views of the author.