Large Deposits of Lithium Found in Afghanistan

[Guest Enron Ex]

Afghanistan may soon become one of the richest countries on the globe.

 

Pegmatite fields, principally in northeastern Afghanistan, contain a vast amounts of lithium. Pegmatites are the primary source of lithium either as spodumene, lithiophyllite or usually from lepidolite (Li-mica). Nuristan and Laghman appear to be the areas with the riches sources Pegmatite.

 

The USGS reported dramatic price increases of almost 50% for lithium carbonate between 2006 and 2008 reflecting average growth in demand of nearly 8% per annum in the 2000-2007 period. But, following the general trend, growth slowed dramatically in 2008 to just 2.4% and, even though consumption fell 15% and production collapsed 25% in 2009, US delivered lithium carbonate prices only reflected the market's reduction with a 20% decrease in January 2010.

 

"We have huge deposits of lithium, but are interpreting the data. This process will be complete in the next four to six months. According to initial indications, it could be more than three times the Bolivian deposits," said Wahidullah Shahrani, Afghan minister of mines and industry.

 

Bolivia is understood to contain about half the world's known lithium reserves, so if Afghanistan's massive reserves are attested, it could be a game changer for a country that has seen its economic backbone crushed by decades of conflict.

 

USGS gives a tempting sample of what is to come:

 

http://pubs.usgs.gov...fs2007-3063.pdf

[Guest human]

Old info. The report was constructed at the height for the push of cap and trade. The report is suspect.

 

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Afghanistan may soon become one of the richest countries on the globe.

 

Pegmatite fields, principally in northeastern Afghanistan, contain a vast amounts of lithium. Pegmatites are the primary source of lithium either as spodumene, lithiophyllite or usually from lepidolite (Li-mica). Nuristan and Laghman appear to be the areas with the riches sources Pegmatite.

 

The USGS reported dramatic price increases of almost 50% for lithium carbonate between 2006 and 2008 reflecting average growth in demand of nearly 8% per annum in the 2000-2007 period. But, following the general trend, growth slowed dramatically in 2008 to just 2.4% and, even though consumption fell 15% and production collapsed 25% in 2009, US delivered lithium carbonate prices only reflected the market's reduction with a 20% decrease in January 2010.

 

"We have huge deposits of lithium, but are interpreting the data. This process will be complete in the next four to six months. According to initial indications, it could be more than three times the Bolivian deposits," said Wahidullah Shahrani, Afghan minister of mines and industry.

 

Bolivia is understood to contain about half the world's known lithium reserves, so if Afghanistan's massive reserves are attested, it could be a game changer for a country that has seen its economic backbone crushed by decades of conflict.

 

USGS gives a tempting sample of what is to come:

 

http://pubs.usgs.gov...fs2007-3063.pdf

[Guest Enron Ex]

I disagree. The deposit locations are well known, but at this point not very accessible. The US Department of Defence recently identified the need for a reliable Lithium for for applications like guidance systems for rockets and missiles, smart ammunition, torpedoes, mines, sonobuoys, unattended ground sensors, UAVs, artillery fuses, active decoy systems, trajectory correction add-on kits, proximity fuses for bombs and sensors for dispersed munitions.

 

Nuristan is the most inaccessible gemstone mining area of Afghanistan and one of the most isolated and difficult places in the world. Villages known to be involved in the pegmatite mining business are Mawi, Suraj (the two which seem to be the most productive), Nilaw, and Korgal. Despite harsh conditions, Nuristan miners work year round. The Nuristan deposits are entirely pegmatite-hosted (that is, occurring in coarsely crystallised igneous rocks), and consist of tourmaline, kunzite, aquamarine, spodumene and morganite. The pegmatite veins vary greatly in shape and size, but are generally veins or lenses up to 40 meters thick and up to several kilometers long. The gem-bearing areas of the pegmatite are usually encountered 10 to 20 meters below the surface. Crystals of tourmaline, spodumene, and beryl (aquamarine, morganite and goshenite) occur in cavities up to 50 centimeters across.

 

The crystals are remarkable for their high quality, size, and diversity of colors. Currently, most of the pegmatites are going to private collectors and museums. The region is too hot to upscale production, but that may change if the local population begins to understand what they have and how much money can be made.