A review on Afghanistan pegmatite belt: lithium reserves, challenges and prospects

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Geology, University of Isfahan, P.O. Box: 81746-73441, Isfahan, Iran

2 Department of Geology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran

3 Department of Geological Engineering and Exploration of Mines, Kabul Polytechnic University, Kabul, 1001, Afghanistan

4 Daikundi Mines Department, Daikundi, Afghanistan

5 Afghanistan Atomic Energy Agency, Kabul, Afghanistan

Abstract

The Afghanistan pegmatite belt, renowned for its vast resources of rare-metals, has emerged as a crucial focal point for geological exploration and resource assessment since 1960. This study delves into the existing literature, offering insights into the lithium resources, challenges and prospects within this belt while pinpointing areas that require further studies. Spanning a considerable expanse of approximately 900 kilometers by 200 kilometers in a SW-NE orientation, the Afghanistan pegmatite belt stands out for its rich deposits of rare metals such as Li, Cs, Ta, Nb, Rb, Be, Sn, and W, alongside industrial minerals (mica, quartz and feldspar) as well as gem-quality minerals (gem quality spodumene, tourmaline, garnet, beryl, etc.). With average grades of 1.7% Li2O, 9% Cs2O, around 0.025% Ta2O5 and over 0.03% Nb2O5, these pegmatites represent a valuable resource. These pegmatite bodies, which can reach kilometers in length and meters in width, are associated both spatially and genetically with the third phase of Oligocene granites (S-Type) and have intruded surrounding metamorphic rocks, granites, diorites, and gabbro of different ages. The future prospects of the Afghanistan pegmatite belt are promising, with the potential to play a pivotal role in meeting the escalating global demand for lithium and other rare-metal elements. As ongoing research continues to unveil the untapped potential of this region, the Afghanistan pegmatite belt is offering valuable opportunities for sustainable resource development and economic growth.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Article Title [Persian]

_

References

Abdullah, K., 1940. Mica mines of Panjshir river. Kabul. AGS.
Abdullah, S., Chmyriov, V. M., 1977. Map of mineral resources of Afghanistan: Kabul, Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, Ministry of Mines and Industries, Department of Geological and Mineral Survey. V/O Technoexport USSR, scale, 1(500,000).
Abdullah, S.H., Chmyriov, V.M., Dronov., V.I., 2008. Geology and Mineral Resources of Afghanistan, 2 Volumes., British Geological Survey-Occasional Publication No. 15. (Reprint of the 1980 English translation of the 1977 Russian publication). British Geological Survey.
Arian, H., Alaminia, Z., Nero, A., Haydari, A., Shirzad, A., 2024. Mineralization Potential of Afghanistan Pegmatite Belt. Regionals Symposium on Science and Technology, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.
Azevedo, M., Campagnol, N., Hagenbruch, T., Hoffman, K., Lala, A., Ramsbottom, O., 2018. Lithium and cobalt: A Tale of Two Commodities.
Baudino, L., Santos, C., Pirri, C. F., La Mantia, F., Lamberti, A., 2021. Recent advances in the lithium recovery from water resources: From passive to electrochemical methods. Advanced Science, 9: 1- 27.
Bogatskiy, V.V., Rossovskiy, L.N., Konovalenko, S.I., 1978. System of structural and morphologic types of zones of rare-metal pegmatite veins and the potential for predicting deposits: Transactions (Doklady) of the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences: Earth Science Sections, 240(1-6): 78-80
Bowersox, G. W., 1985. A status report on gemstones from Afghanistan. Gems Gemology, 21(4): 192-70 Arian et al.204.
Bowersox, G. W., Chamberlin, B. E., Dietrich, R. V., 1996. Gemstones of Afghanistan. Economic Geology and the Bulletin of the Society of Economic Geologists, 91(2): 482-482.
Brian W. Jaskula., 2024. US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2022.
Cameron, E. N., Jahns, R. H., Mcnair, A. H., Page, L. R., 1950. Internal structure of granitic pegmatites. Geologiska Föreningen i Stockholm Förhandlingar, 72(3): 361-362.
Cardoso-Fernandes, J., Teodoro, A. C., Lima, A., 2019. Remote sensing data in lithium (Li) exploration: A new approach for the detection of Li-bearing pegmatites. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 76:10-25.
Černý, P., Ercit, T. S., 2005. The classification of granitic pegmatites revisited. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43(6).
Chmyriov, V.M., Mirzad, S.H., 1972. Map of mineral resources of Afghanistan: Ministry of Mines and industries of Royal Afghanistan, Department of Geology and Mines, scale 1:1,000,000.
Cocker M., 2011. Summaries of important areas for mineral investment and production opportunities of nonfuel minerals in Afghanistan. USGS, 2.
Cocker, D., 2011. Summary of the Mineral Information Package for the Nuristan Rare-Metal Pegmatite Area of Interests. USGS. Ehsan, M., 1934. Afghanistan mines. Kabul, AGS.
ESCAP, U., 1955. Geology and mineral resources of Afghanistan. United Nations. Gardiner, N. J., Jowitt, S. M., Sykes, J. P., 2024. Lithium: critical, or not so critical?. Geoenergy, 2(1), Geoenergy 2023-045.
Ginzburg, A. I., Rodionov, G. G., 1960. On the depth of formation of granite pegmatites. Econ. Geol. US SR, (1-2): 44-53.
Goldfarb, R. J., 2006. Giant Metallic Deposits—Future Sources of Industrial Metals. Peter Laznicka. 2006. Pp. 732. Berlin, Springer. ISBN-10 3-540-33091-7. Price US $199. Economic Geology, 101(7): 1445-1446.
Gourcerol, B., Gloaguen, E., Melleton, J., Tuduri, J., Galiegue, X., 2019. Re-assessing the European lithium resource potential–A review of hard-rock resources and metallogeny. Ore Geology Reviews, 109: 494-519.
Gruber, P. W., Medina, P. A., Keoleian, G. A., Kesler, S. E., Everson, M. P., Wallington, T. J., 2011.
Global lithium availability: A constraint for electric vehicles?. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 15(5): 760-775.
London, D., 2018. Ore-forming processes within granitic pegmatites. Ore Geology Reviews, 101: 349- 383.
Maneta, V., Baker, D. R., 2019. The potential of lithium in alkali feldspars, quartz, and muscovite as a geochemical indicator in the exploration for lithium-rich granitic pegmatites: A case study from the spodumene-rich Moblan pegmatite, Quebec, Canada. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 205:106336.
Mashkoor, R., Ahmadi, H., Rahmani, A. B., Pekkan, E., 2022. Detecting Li-bearing pegmatites using geospatial technology: the case of SW Konar Province, Eastern Afghanistan. Geocarto International, 37(26): 14105-14126.
Mosazai, A. M., Yousufi, A., Ahmadi, H., 2017. The geological characteristics and economical importance of pegmatite belt of Afghanistan. Геология и охрана недр, (4): 26-33.
Mosazai, A. M., Yousufi, A., Ahmadi, H., 2018. The zoning structure of rare-metal pegmatites of Afghanistan. Department of geology engineering and exploration of mines.
Orris, G. J., Bliss, D. J., 2002. Mines and Mineral Occurrences of Afghanistan. USGS, Open file report 02-110.
Panahi, F., Modaberi, S., Mirnezhad, H., 2015. Geochemistry and Economic Potential of Rare – metal Pegmatites of Taghma, Salang, Afghanistan. Second International Conference of Science and Earth, Iran.
Peters, S. G., 2011. Summary of Daikundi tin, tungsten and lithium area of interest. USGS.
Peters, S.G., Ludington, S.D., Orris, G.J., Sutphin, D.M., Bliss, J.D., Rytuba, J.J., eds., and the U.S. Geological Survey-Afghanistan Ministry of Mines Joint Mineral Resource Assessment Team, 2007. Preliminary non-fuel mineral resource assessment of Afghanistan, U.S. Geological Survey Open- File Report 2007–1214, 810 P, 1 CD–ROM. Geopersia 2025, 15(1): 57-71 71
Rossovskiy, L. N., 1976. Rare metallic pegmatite belt of the Hindukush, Eastern Afghanistan. USSR. Rossovskiy, L. N., Chmyrev, V. M., 1977. Distribution patterns of rare-metal pegmatites in the Hindu Kush (Afghanistan). International Geology Review, 19(5): 511-520.
Rossovskiy, L. N., Konovalenko, S. I., 1976. South Asian Pegmatite belt. Akademiia Nauk SSSR Doklady. Earth Science Section, 299: 89-91.
Rossovskiy, L.N., 1974. Rare metals (lithium, beryllium, tantalum, cesium) in Afghanistan, Kabul, Department of Geological and Mineral Survey.
Rossovskiy, L.N., 1980. Mestorozhdeniya dragotsennykh kamney Afganistana [Gemstone deposits of Afghanistan]. Geologiya Rudnykh Mestorozhdeniy, 22(3): 74–88
Rossovskiy, L.N., 1990. Evolyutsiya granitnykh pegmatitov v istorii geologicheskogo razvitiya skladchatykh oblastey (na primere Pamira i Gindukusha) [Evolution of granite pegmatites in the history of the geological genesis of folded areas, exemplified by the Pamirs and Hindu Kush]: Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR, 313(5): 1195-1199.
Safi, Z., 2021. Pegmatites of Darra-e-Pich. Master’s thesis, Politectnico Di Torino. Scarlat, D., 2015. Afghanistan Resources and the Persepective of a New Future. Land Forces Academy Review, 20(4): 411.
Selway, J. B., Breaks, F. W., Tindle, A. G., 2005. A review of rare-element (Li-Cs-Ta) pegmatite exploration techniques for the Superior Province, Canada, and large worldwide tantalum deposits. Exploration and Mining Geology, 14(1-4): 1-30.
Shroder, J. F., Eqrar, N., Waizy, H., Ahmadi, H., Weihs, B. J., 2022. Review of the Geology of Afghanistan and its water resources. International Geology Review, 64 (7): 1009-1031.
Siehl, A., (2017). Structural setting and evolution of the Afghan orogenic segment–a review. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 427(1): 57-88.
Tarin, G. N., 2022. Pegmatite mines of rare and precious stones of Afghanistan: Granite pegmatites of rare metals, Afghanistan Science academy publications, 659 pp.
Treloar, P. J., Izatt, C. N., 1993. Tectonics of the Himalayan collision between the Indian plate and the Afghan block: A synthesis. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 74(1): 69-87.
Trueman, D. L., 1982. Exploration for rare-element granitic pegmatites. Short course in granitic pegmatites in science and industry, 463-493.
Yousaf, S., 2016. Afghanistan’s Mineral Resource Potential: A Boon or Bane. Journal of Current Affairs, 1(1): 86-109.
U.S. Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, January 2024
Geopersia

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 September 2024

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 03 August 2024
  • Revise Date: 07 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 19 September 2024

Share

How to cite

Statistics