US finds 1Mt rare earths deposit in Afghanistan
TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – The US Geological Survey (USGS) said on Wednesday it estimated there were at least one-million tons of rare-earth elements contained in resources in Afghanistan’s restive Helmand province.
According to the USGS, the carbonatite deposit hosts mainly light rare-earth elements, namely lanthanum, cerium, and neodymium, which it says are comparable to those found at Molycorp’s Mountain Pass mine in California.
“The international mining community is beginning to realize Afghanistan's extraordinary mineral potential,” The US Department of Defense Task Force for Business and Stability Operations acting director Regina Dubey said in a statement.
Companies from India, Iran and Canada are currently bidding to develop the massive Hajigak iron-ore deposit in the country.
The Khanneshin rare earths evaluation is documented in a new USGS report and will be also be included as part of a larger report by the USGS to be released later in 2011.
This will include an updated evaluation of Afghanistan’s main deposits of gold, silver, iron, copper, lead, zinc, phosphorus and uranium.
The Pentagon said in June last year untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan may be worth more than $1-trillion.
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