Afghanistan holds vast deposits of industrial minerals, a new study by the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported on Thursday.
The survey shows that Afghanistan folds deposits of graphite, bauxite, chromite, barytes, clays, dolomite, limestone, potash, rare earths, sands and talcs.
Most of the minerals have not been investigated thoroughly. Only graphite, chromite, potash, rare earths, talc and asbestos have specific assessments.
Deposits of large flake graphite are estimated at 1m. tonnes.
“Graphite is present in a number of small occurrences in...