Quote:
Originally Posted by Shotsie
The mineral deposits weren't discovered until 2007, though, We invaded Afghanistan in 2001. Here's another quote from that same article:
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The world already knew that Afghan had incredible mineral wealth, the difference is now that the West is back into Afghan they can be more precise as to how much; enabling them to draw up contracts and make bank. It's a bit like if a burglar broke into a billionaires mansion; they might not know exactly what was there, but they'd expect it to be good.
"Geologists have known of the extent of the mineral wealth for over a century, as a result of surveys done by the British and Russians."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mining_in_Afghanistan
Knowledge of Afghan's wealth of resources even goes back to ancient times
"Since ancient times Afghanistan has been famous as a source of precious and semi-precious stones and above all its lapis lazuli, which has been prized throughout history both for jewellery and as a pigment."
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/afghanminerals/about.htm
Different nationalities have been involved, including German, Italian, French and Soviet. They also received assistance from the United Nations (HQ in New York) i.e. it wasn't just secret Soviet knowledge
"A new epoch in the study of Afghanistan's geology and mineral resources began when the Government of Afghanistan inaugurated the National Geological Survey in July 1955. This marked the initiation of systematic surveys of the geology and mineral resources of the country, which continued over the next 25 years. This period was characterised by extensive mapping operations and, subsequently, by geological surveys and prospecting of mineral occurrences and more detailed evaluation of selected prospects. The Afghanistan Geological Survey under the Ministry of Mines and Industries conducted this work in cooperation with German, Italian, French and Soviet geologists. During the first years of the existence of the Geological Survey some assistance was also received from the United Nations organisation."
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/afghanminerals/about.htm
In 1979 Afghan became closed to Western Geologists, however by then the geology of Afghan was known in more detail than any other region of the Himalaya.
"Geological investigations were severely curtailed with the Russian invasion of Afghanistan in December 1979, when the country effectively became closed to western geologists. Prior to the invasion, the geology of Afghanistan was probably known in more detail than any other region of the Himalaya, but from that time onwards outside interests were suspended and the Afghan geological community became isolated."
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/afghanminerals/about.htm
Now that the West once again have control of Afghan, modern concepts and methods are being used. They can now be more precise, doing formal explorations.
"Following the fall of the Taliban regime, the Government of the Transitional Islamic State of Afghanistan, with the assistance of the World Bank, began to formulate a mining sector strategy and policy. Amongst many things, this recognised the need for the rehabilitation and restructuring of the Afghanistan Geological Survey in order for it to perform as a modern geological survey and implement a programme of geological mapping and resource assessment using modern concepts and methods."