22 December 2023
Afghanistan has over 1,400 mineral deposits, containing barite, chromite, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, natural gas, petroleum, precious and semiprecious stones, salt, sulfur, lithium, talc and zinc, among many other minerals . Gemstones include high-quality emeralds and rubies. According to a joint study by the Pentagon and the American Geological Survey, Afghanistan has about $1 trillion in untapped minerals.