U.S. Discovers Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan

reply to post by EvolvedMinistry


I agree. 3 presidents tried to bypass the Fed Reserve and create independent currency or gold/silver backed currency, and all 3 were assassinated. McKinleyy, Lincoln, JFK. And the King of England (and Frnce too) played both sides, but the fact was that he also lent money to the US for the war of Independence. As you said, without money (or gold and silver), there would be no war. If we had no demands for fossil fuels, then most of the global wars would have never happened (sans the fact that wars also re-create failing economies).

Wow!!! That’s a lot of extra wealth-employment for the: Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Jordon, and possibly Pakistan, Muslim, Economic, Union. Egypt would join too, if it stopped being such a corrupt dictatorship, and represented our enemies the Muslim Brotherhood as a functional-fair society would. If around half of this comes to fruitation, then we should expect the corrupt, Saudi, dictatorship to fall for one more in line with the thinking of the majority of its (self declared, enemy) people.

reply to post by ModernAcademia


I donno why the MSM is cheering up with this news, it has all the hallmarks of bad sign for Afghanistan. Now secretarian violence, corruption, bribe and foreign investors will be invading the country. Imo Afghanistan should not touch these minerals at all untill it has stabilised a bit and US/NATO withdrawl.

another reason to bomb poor ol' afganistan - these poor afganies don't deserve these type of things - the People in power should just leave these poor people alone instead of forcing their ways on em'.

Hot off the press. Enjoy

Value of Afghanistan’s mineral discovery needs to be dealt with cautiously

Text

The good news from the men at the Pentagon is that beneath the landmines Afghanistan is sitting on a goldmine.

Exactly when they took their degrees in geology is unclear but officials have estimated that Afghanistan’s mineral resources could be worth $1 trillion.

This suspiciously round number appears to be based on geological surveys made decades ago as well as recent on-the-ground research.

How thorough that could have been is open to debate, given that it takes the world’s best miners about a decade to explore a new area.

Factor in Afghanistan’s size, and the Pentagon must have had an army of geologists working in the country since immediately after 9/11 to have accurately studied its terrain.

The $1 trillion figure is, therefore, highly misleading. It is a theoretical number and may have little relation to the value of resources that could actually be exploited.

reply to post by SLAYER69


A TRILLION! HOLY BEJEBUS!?!!

Maybe, all those airstrikes in the hills hoping to cave in Osama's cave actually uncovered something.

Or

Maybe, we knew all along what lies beneath the 3rd world.

Afghan mineral wealth may be greater: $3 trillion

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan mining official says the untapped minerals in the war-torn country are worth at least $3 trillion — triple a U.S. estimate.

Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said Thursday he's going to Britian next week to discuss how to attract foreign investors to mine one of the world's largest iron ore deposits in Bamiyan province. The relatively safe area is in the heart of the war-torn nation.

news.yahoo.com...

$1 trillion, $3 trillion, at least $3 trillion, the number seems to be getting higher and higher. Who knows how much is really there?

reply to post by MikeboydUS



Paper money and credit is just a way and system to barter, at the end resources are worth more then what the system states. depends on how bad there needed and supply and demand. You can't make anything out of paper money and credit, but one can make lots out of gold, iron, lithium. Everybody is going to be lying to get as much as they can, for the least effort possible so I wouldn't put to much stock in what the media says something is worth. or how much is in the ground, it's not good business to show all your cards in the bartering game.

Another thread update.
The latest
World’s Mining Companies Covet Afghan Riches

WASHINGTON — Mining companies around the world are eager to exploit Afghanistan’s newly discovered mineral wealth, but executives of Western firms caution that war, corruption and lack of roads and other infrastructure are likely to delay exploration for years.

A few high-risk investors are sufficiently intrigued by the country’s potential to take an early look. JP Morgan, for instance, has just sent a team of mining experts to Afghanistan to examine possible projects to develop.

I was wondering what kind of minerals were there?

(Thanks to poster above who provided this linky)

www.nytimes.com...

“Afghanistan could be one of the leading producers of copper, gold, lithium and iron ore in the world,” said Ian Hannam, a London-based banker and mining expert with JP Morgan. “I believe this has the potential to be transforming for Afghanistan.”

hmm....this is interesting....

Mining industry executives, as well as American officials, are also concerned about the corruption in the Afghan government, and are uncertain how to avoid turning the discovery of great mineral wealth into nothing more than a windfall for Kabul’s oligarchs. “I know some people have gone in to kick the tires, and some guys found there was too much risk, too much corruption, and didn’t want to play the game,” observed Mr. Yeager, the Colorado geologist. “They have got to resolve the corruption issue.”

Minerals in Afghan

afghan minerals

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Originally posted by SLAYER69
Somehow this doesn't surprise me.
Outside of the poppy fields and oil pipeline routs there had to be something that was more valuable in the region. I'm surprised they released this info. I doubt that this is actually a new discovery. It was probably known for years.

Kind of explains the sheepish integration of electric automobile technology, imo. Waiting to dominate all resources before they setup the chess-board.

I've just read about all of this, and... well.. it's connected a few dots for me to say the least. I bet everyone knew the lithium deposits were there when the Soviets were present.

A wise old proverb says that "lie has short legs." A recent leak of information on natural deposits in the basement hiding Afghan gives us a different perspective of the international campaign against terrorism, initiated by the Bush administration after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and materialized in occupying Afghanistan. Suspicions various international political analysts blamed the United States of America they want, in fact, the invasion of Afghanistan and of natural learning (which circulated in immense numbers small circles) are about to be confirmed. Some estimate that the value of underground riches beyond astronomical amount of $ 1 trillion. It is said that wars and money share the same smell. War in Afghanistan carry a dizzying aroma of over 1000 billion ...

How many can say or how many may hide a simple press release? Especially when it is submitted with the official endorsement of the Pentagon and over the major news agencies in the world? The subject is extremely sensitive and present: the war against terrorism, peacekeeping in Afghanistan, hunting the Taliban, destroy Al-Qaeda, the normalization of life in a country that has not known peace for more than 30 years and, last but not least, rush precious metals and natural gas, both at great prices today.

Returning to the release in question, it passed almost unnoticed even in the international press. He left behind only comments acidic or resigned coming from analysts specializing in international politics, world economy and sharing areas of influence. In November of last year, sources inside the Pentagon declared anonymously that several US-Afghan geological expedition claimed that the results obtained to date indicate the presence of large mineral deposits in this country deep in the heart of Asia.

It's hidden it in the mountains one of the largest Afghan treasures of the world?

However, rush riches a poor country (!), Began much earlier. In January of 1984, Afghan director of Geology published a report indicating that the basement of the country has a wide variety of mineral resources, including iron, chromium, gold, silver, sulfur, talc, magnesium, marble and lapis lazuli. It was only a superficial assessment, Afghan geologists at that time not having the equipment with which to evaluate the performance of all minerals in the basement or even the size of deposits in question. The information brought by Afghan geologists had already reached the ears of the Soviets, who from their establishment in Afghanistan, we suspect that this arid country hides and other riches besides huge natural gas deposits, which Kremlin was aware since 1957, when Russian geologists investigating natural gas reserves Amu Daria River near.

War against terrorism or for "security" underground riches? *

The Afghan government was a puppet of that time supported by the Soviet Union: therefore the authorities in Kabul preparing to develop and exploit the mineral resources extraction and processing technology Soviet Moscow with trained engineers. Obviously, the USSR wanted to keep the lion's share for himself. Another treasure long sought after that Jindu Soviet eyes, consists of uranium reserves Afghan very popular around the world as raw material for nuclear weapons supplied whose development was at its peak to mid 80s. Over Soviet-Afghan plans to bedding but dust after the defeat of the USSR by mujahideen, which ends with the shameful flight of Russia in 1989.
How to steal a trillion?

On 13 June 2010, the New York Post front page headline an event of major importance for geo-political world. With a few days ago, researchers from the U.S. Geological Survey (geology and mining supreme forum of American) soldiers defend the U.S. Army and CIA agents guided, discovered mostly in Afghanistan underground potential. The first estimate of geologists, deposits over $ 1 trillion worth of Afghan dollars. A trillion! That is a train of 25 wagons loaded eyes of the floor to roof with papers one hundred dollars!

At this time, Afghanistan is faced with extreme poverty

In Washington Glass greedy eyes and hands would gather with joy. In Moscow, impassive eyes hiding new strategies. In Tehran, concerns and fears were to new heights. In Beijing, the strategy into the emergency meeting, while Brussels was fully mistress and her sisters surprise - outrage and frustration.

Only tribal chiefs in Afghanistan did not know what happens. Impassive and apparently absent, he sees things Afghans and their ancient customs. Life as owners of the underground riches of their ancestors continue undisturbed. In fact, 99% of Afghan citizens have been no discovery now can change their lives. Definitively.

Kabul - a capital of corruption and poverty

Results of this money could change the ground Afghanistan if it wants of course ... which, according to most political analysts, it is very unlikely to happen again. Even a quarter of the colossal amount of mon

Continuation:

Results of this money could change the ground Afghanistan if it wants of course ... which, according to most political analysts, it is very unlikely to happen again. Even a quarter of the colossal amount of money would be enough to build a modern 21st century infrastucturi, providing foundations for sustainable local economy, along with the development of effective health and education systems.

The Afghan government and the incumbent president, Hamid Karzai, was announced by the recent discovery, a U.S. official of commenting Afgansitan ironic that there was less and the Afghan Government was news from CNN, the place to get information directly from the "friends" of in Washington. In an end, Afghan and American officials agreed to talk about new discoveries that change the total data geopolitical games.

Hamid Karzai, a weak president

Despite exacerbation of armed conflicts fueled by Taliban offensive and despite supplementation with U.S. troops since last year announced by President Barack Obama, U.S. troops launched the offensive on margin, in southern Afghanistan, mark time, with all the overwhelming superiority of the technique American battle. Beats all, allegations of corruption and favoritism continue to flow upon the heads of members of Karzai government. Given this situation, U.S. officials are forced to consider that the new treasure is about to turn into a multi-edged weapon.

Instead hoped to bring more peace and prosperity, new natural wealth can lead Taliban to engage with even more fury in battle with another reason to do everything possible to regain control of Afghanistan. Corruption, which is already on an upward trend among members of the Karzai government, is likely to be full of temptation fueled tremendous new wealth. With so much as a handful of oligarchs current local and tribal warrior chiefs rule over the lands that are already hiding fabulous riches.

War against terrorism mark time. Whole regions are still controlled by the Taliban
Treasure Story

As recently as last year, Afghan Minister of Mines was accused by U.S. officials that accepted a bribe worth 30 million dollars from some Chinese businessmen who granted the right to exploit its copper mine. The minister was dismissed.

Endless battles between the army and Afghan tribal leaders continue unabated even the possibility of concluding a peace agreement in the short term. Afghanistan has a national mining law, prepared by World Bank advisors, with the observation that in a country like Afghanistan law is simply inapplicable in the present context.

Observation deputy undersecretary for Defense and Commerce and leader of the team that discovered deposits Pentagon, Paul A. Brinkley, is more than eloquence: "This country's laws do not matter, no one can predict the reaction of people when a confrontation between the Afghan government supported by new and tribal chiefs who control the provinces where we made the discovery. Minister of Mines is not ready to handle the situation. It is our duty to help him in this regard ".

At this point, Afghans exploit their wealth in the most rudimentary way underground

In 2004, American geologists sent to Afghanistan as part of a reconstruction team, have discovered a strange series of maps in storage Afghan Geological Office in Kabul. At first assessment, the maps presented new data on mineral deposits of the country. U.S. team learned later that the data were collected by Russian mining experts detach here during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.

Continuation:

Hastily withdrawn in 1989, all maps and materials prepared by the Russian have been abandoned. Chaos during the '90s, when Afghanistan was crushed by endless civil war and Taliban regime iron, a small group of Afghan geologists managed to protect maps, hiding them in their homes. Geologists have returned Afghan Afghan Geological Office only after the U.S. invasion and overthrow the Taliban regime in 2001.

The geological map above you can see very clearly the riches Afghan: deserul marked with yellow and arid. The remaining colors are riches that lie buried underground here

"Maps were made long ago, places were known, but mining development was nonexistent in those 30-35 years of continuous wars," Ahmad Hujabre strengthens an Afghan engineer who worked in the early '79 in the Ministry of Mines .

Armed with old maps Russian, U.S. Geological Survey began in 2006 at the height of surveying a series on Afghanistan. American specialists have used the art equipment based on magnetic and gravity measurements. The equipment was attached to a plane P-3 Orion Navy guy who flew by over 70% of the country. Data were obtained in both producing Wshington hope for, that, one year later, the team of geologists and returned to a more sophisticated study, this time aboard a British bomber aircraft equipped with instruments offering three-dimensional images mineral deposits of small and deep. It was the most detailed and advanced study ever conducted on Afghan basement.
Mining capital of the world

The results were - apparently - forgotten, that in November 2009, a special power delegated by the Pentagon with a mission to find the final data on wealth to set up emergency Afghan "theater of operations against terrorism."

So far, according to the Pentagon, the largest natural deposits investigated major deposits contain iron and copper. Deposits are so large that they are theoretically Afgansitanul that currently hold the largest reserves of copper and iron in the world. Other findings include large deposits of niobium, a metal easily, very rarely used in obtaining superconducting properties of steels.

Afghanistan's natural gas reserves contain approximately 150 billion cubic meters. Coal deposits in this country totals, also, the enormous figure of over 400 million tons.

In 1983, Khwaja Rawash Mountains north of Kabul, Soviet experts were in ecstasy: had identified one of the largest deposits of uranium in the world. In 2009, Americans enjoy an even greater ecstasy: it discovered that Afghanistan also holds similar deposits of uranium in Koh Mir Daoud, near Herat and Kharkiz in Khandahar province.

Khwaja Rawash Mountains containing a huge uranium deposit is located in the vicinity of Kabul international airport.

Also, poor Asian country also holds major deposits of natural asbestos, gold, silver, nickel, zinc, mercury, bauxite, potash, graphite, tourmaline, emeralds, sapphires and rubies. But great wealth consists of underground deposits Afghan its unparalleled purity iron. At a first estimate, iron deposits contain about 2 billion tons of hematite and tycoon mixtures, mixtures containing about 62% iron.

The largest copper deposit in Afghanistan is somewhere at 50 km north of the capital Kabul, in the valley Aynak. Deposits contain over 300 million tons of copper ore with a purity of 0.7 to 1.5%.

No less than 80% of the world's lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone, is still untapped, hidden in the basement of Afghanistan. Before the Soviet invasion in 1979, Afghan miners extracted annually about 6,000 tons of lapis lazuli, a tiny amount compared to bulk deposits.

Lithium is a precious metal that is rare ... less in Afghanistan

But perhaps the most coveted treasure in Afghanistan consists of huge deposits of lithium found the U.S. last autumn. Alone, only lithium reserves could get today Afghanistan in deep poverty and - theoretically - would make a country richer than all Eastern European states entered the EU during the last wave of enlargement. Lithium is the raw material for batteries and some components of laptops, mobile phones and other devices, from pocket to cosmic shuttle!

Continuation:

Worldwide, demand for lithium is so large that Afghanistan could reach in the future "Saudi Arabia of lithium" as American experts estimate the U.S. Geological Survey.

No gold deposits of Afghanistan are not modest. Rather, some experts estimate that if all the operation will move to gold deposits in Afghanistan, the world market for gold will drop by 50% in just the first month of operation.

With these new data in the face, it seems that American goals in Afghanistan are more "nuanced" and not targeting only terrorists, fanatics negasitul Muslims or Osama bin Laden.
Ok, What do the Chinese and Russians?

"Oh, Lord, is an absolutely huge potential here. Basically this country sits on the treasure," exclaimed recently in an interview, Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan, he stunned the grandeur of the data presented in the geological report Americans. How poor Afghan economy consists, in fact, in agriculture and shepherding subsistence gross domestic product here is among the lowest in the world. Based on the latest discoveries, some Afghan officials, tired of war, day-dream to rebuild the country.

Gen. David H. Petraeus, the man who knows what it is

"This time, will become the backbone of fresh Afghan economy. It will be the rock on which we will rebuild homeland" said Jalil Jumriany excited, an adviser to the Afghan Minister of Mining. It is, however, hard to believe that the assumptions of Afghans will turn bright too soon in reality.

United States were already accused of imposing a monopoly on economic and financial fragile Afghan state. In addition, the two great rivals of Uncle Sam, Russia and China, not at all reconciled to the situation and already lurk on the horizon. Especially with how the world is not divided into clear areas of influence, as it was during the Cold War and the great powers struggle for the establishment of new hierarchies. China and Russia are trying to take full advantage of the crisis that still haunts an America led by Barack Obama a president (yet) popular but - until now - poorly.

Hu Jintao, Chinese President looks forward to Afghanistan

Despite massive investment in the region and the presence of U.S. troops, some U.S. officials fear China - the only country in the world who has not felt the global economic crisis, even more than that: more than ever prospered in the past two years . The new economic colossus of the world is not too hard sinchiseste feelings and interests of Americans. Hunger is growing Chinese economy and the natural riches of Afghanistan and Iran, countries that are in close proximity to China, are the only ones that can quench. And now, China has no reason to fear U.S. Today, the U.S. have come to borrow in dollars to Bank of China, and 90% of consumer goods for the U.S. market are manufactured in China. Influence of the Great Dragon of the East is so great that even the components of weapons from the U.S. Army came to be manufactured in China.

Beijing State did not need much persuading. Earlier this year, the Chinese have already bought from tribal chiefs, valuable copper mine in Aynak, Logar province. The situation is increasingly tense in. Beijing is nesfiindu Washington to apply pressure of the most diverse.

.

Russians pack (sic), in 1989, when Soviet troops withdrew from Afghanistan after a grueling guerilla war. Today, the duo tries to regain influence in the Kremlin the former USSR in Asia. Given that information is true wealth ground in Afghanistan, it becomes main claimant to the title of tsar crown jewel in Moscow.

Neither Moscow is not limited to the role of observer. The old master still knows many secrets of the treasure. Recent disturbances in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kirghistan, materialized in the fall of pro-American regimes, suggests a discrete approach, but the insistence of Russia. In addition, the proximity of Russia and China unprecedented, with more and more clear foreshadowing the possibility of a united Eurasia, simply put impede American Project in Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, as we can today to prefigure the future, hope that Afghans are weak, as owners of the treasure, to enjoy the heritage of their homeland basement.

Update! Trillion is, again, three trillion dollars!

In early September this year, Minister of Mines of Afghanistan, Wahidullah Shahrani came to the ramp with a statement literally upside down during exchanges in London, New York and Tokyo.

Afghan official said that following the latest research by a team of U.S. geologists and specialists of the Pentagon, the natural mineral deposits, initially estimated at about $ 1 trillion is actually much higher.

According to data submitted by American specialists, only lithium reserves in Afghanistan are higher than those held by Bolivia, the country considered, today, the first world exporter.

Continuation:

Similarly, natural reserves of copper and iron are well above the originally estimated. Only iron stores in the province of Bamyan are higher than those in Western Europe.

Shahrani further stated that the U.S. data, according to which mineral reserves discovered would be worth "only" U.S. $ 1.000 billion, were launched special because then Washington did not want to destabilize markets by announcing a potential profile amounts of $ 3,000 billion .




This is a rough translation of a Romanian Article

Source:www.descopera.ro...