Huge Rare-Earth Deposit Found in Helmand

[Haris]

Huge rare-earth material in
Helmand: USGS


WASHINGTON (PAN): The Khanashin carbonatites in southern Helmand
Province have an estimated one million metric tonnes of rare earth
material, according to a US Geological Survey (USGS) estimate.

This estimate came on Wednesday from a 2009-2011 USGS study, funded
by the Department of Defence Task Force for Business and Stability
Operations (TFBSO). "This is just one more piece of evidence that
Afghanistan's mineral sector has a bright future," said TFBSO Acting
Director Regina Dubey.

"The international mining community is beginning to realise Afghanistan's
extraordinary mineral potential. The USGS's groundbreaking work provides a
foundation for the kind of future investment that could help create a
vibrant Afghan economy," Dubey said.

USGS Director Marcia McNutt hoped a neutral and unbiased analysis of the
location, supply and flow of these strategic minerals would help the
Afghans understand the true extent of their mineral wealth, said The
primary area of mineralisation covers an approximately 0.74 square
kilometers of area.

"The potential that these findings have for the future well-being of the
Afghan people is significant," said Marc Grossman, Special US
representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Washington would continue support the Afghan government's efforts to
develop the resources through private-sector investment in a responsible,
transparent and sustainable manner that benefitted the Afghan people,
expanded markets and promoted regional prosperity, he said.

The rare-earth element (REE) is a group of 15 metallic elements, with
similar atomic properties and structures which are essential components in
a diverse and expanding array of high-technology and clean-energy
products. Despite their name, they are relatively common within the earth's
crust, but are not often found in economically exploitable concentrations.

Rare earth elements are important ingredients in high-strength magnets,
metal alloys for batteries and light-weight structures and phosphors. These
are essential components for many current and emerging alternative
energy technologies, such as electric vehicles, photo-voltaic cells, energy
efficient lighting and wind power.

Products containing rare-earth elements also are used in a number of key
defence applications More than 95 percent of global REE production now
comes from China, which in 2010 exported approximately 30,000 metric
tonnes of such products.



http://www.pajhwok.com/en/2011/09/15...l-helmand-usgs

[retro]

Rare-earth magnets made from alloys of rare earth elements and they have industrial properties in use in electric generators etc.

[randolph85]

Geologists discover one million metric ton rare element bounty in Afghanistan

Afghanistan News.Net
Geologists have found one million metric tons of rare earth elements, including lanthanum, cerium and neodymium, in the desert of southern Afghanistan.

This single deposit places Afghanistan on the sixth position on a list of countries having the largest rare earth reserves, scientificAmercian.com reports.

US Geological Survey (USGS) scientist Robert Tucker said the discovered quantity of deposits, which are used in manufacturing modern technologies, can fulfill the world's needs for next ten years based on current consumption.

He suspects the actual deposit to be much larger based on clues gathered during the three- day reconnaissance mission.

"I fully expect that our estimates are conservative. With more time, and with more people doing proper exploration, it could become a major, major discovery," Tucker said.

The exploration time was limited as the deposit is located near heavily guarded southern Af-Pak border.

"It's one of the most challenging things I've ever done. Walking around with 30 to 40 pounds of protective gear is very difficult," Tucker said.

Chemical analyses of rock samples show that the concentration of light rare earth elements in the Afghan deposit are at par with the premier Chinese site, Bayan Obo in Inner Mongolia.

The new rare earth findings were mentioned in USGS's new, 2,000-page assessment of Afghanistan's vast mineral bounty, which was presented on September 29 at the Afghan embassy in Washington.(ANI)

[sahil112]

isit it weird that every couple of weeks they find another rare or another important mineral or something in afghanistan and they keep telling us the war is on terror?

[faye]

in a few years time we will probably see a sequal to 'the great iraqi heist', 'the great afghan heist' where the multinational pals and representatives of american politicians, go in and loot the country. iraqs missing billions, were they ever found? yeah, right.

[AFG21]

Afghanistan could be such a rich country if it once stabelise and some smart peopel will begin to work and do something whit this rare elements. But then I again US an others will probebly steal everething once the war is over.