Atlanteax
06-14-2010, 09:36 AM
Afghanistan: U.S. Identifies Vast Riches Of Minerals
June 14, 2010 0548 GMT
The United States discovered untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, including iron, copper, cobalt, gold and metals like lithium, The New York Times reported June 14. There is stunning potential here, said Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command. A Pentagon task force is helping the Afghans set up a mineral development system. The biggest mineral deposits discovered are of iron and copper, and the quantities are large enough to make Afghanistan a major world producer, U.S. officials said. Other finds include deposits of niobium, a soft metal used in producing superconducting steel, rare earth elements and gold deposits in the Pashtun areas.
This appears promising. Ideally the resources will not be very difficult to get to for mining operations, and thereby provides national revenue that 1) ends the dependence on Opium trade; & 2) significantly improve the standard-of-living for Afghanistans to deter them from radicalization.
June 14, 2010 0548 GMT
The United States discovered untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, including iron, copper, cobalt, gold and metals like lithium, The New York Times reported June 14. There is stunning potential here, said Gen. David Petraeus, head of the U.S. Central Command. A Pentagon task force is helping the Afghans set up a mineral development system. The biggest mineral deposits discovered are of iron and copper, and the quantities are large enough to make Afghanistan a major world producer, U.S. officials said. Other finds include deposits of niobium, a soft metal used in producing superconducting steel, rare earth elements and gold deposits in the Pashtun areas.
This appears promising. Ideally the resources will not be very difficult to get to for mining operations, and thereby provides national revenue that 1) ends the dependence on Opium trade; & 2) significantly improve the standard-of-living for Afghanistans to deter them from radicalization.