The gem, metal and mineral resources of Afghanistan are described in a newly released report from the U.S. Geological Survey. The 10-page report and its appendices list by name and location, more than 1,000 sites that contain gemstone, metal and mineral deposits, including large quantities of sand and gravel, clay, gypsum, and limestone.

Data in the report were compiled from three previous compilations of Afghanistan mineral resources, funded by the United Nations and private industry in the United States and Afghanistan. Additional geologic and commodity information came from USGS files and several other published resources.

The report, Open-File Report 02-110, “Mines and mineral occurrences of Afghanistan,” by Greta Orris and James Bliss, is available is digital format from the USGS public access World Wide Web site on the internet at http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of02-110 or by anonymous FTP from geopubs.wr.usgs.gov, in the directory pub/open-file/of02-110.

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