Managing Afghanistan’s Mineral Wealth: Can Afghanistan’s Mineral Wealth Be Used to Rebuild the Economy?

Abstract

From 2005 to 2009, the US Geological Survey performed a series of remote sensing surveys in Afghanistan in an attempt to quantify the nation’s mineral resource potential. Their findings stand to significantly transform the future of Afghanistan’s economy and development. Afghanistan’s potential mineral wealth is valued at $908 billion. This places Afghanistan amongst the top five nations in the world by mineral wealth. The abundant minerals are diverse in value and industry potential, with large deposits of iron, copper, and cobalt, in addition to deposits of gold, gemstones, and rare earth elements.