Mineral Wealth May Impact Afghanistan's Future - Weekend Edition Sunday

HANSEN: The United States and other foreign governments, though, reportedly have known about the presence of these reserves for years. I mean, what's the value in the timing of this rediscovery?

Mr. THIER: Well, I think that there are a few things going on. A couple of years ago, USAID helped to fund the United States Geological Survey to do intensive identification of Afghanistan's natural resources. And they did two things. One: they found old maps that the Soviets in the '80s had started to construct of the mineral resources of Afghanistan. But they also used newer technology that allows you to actually overfly the country hundreds of times and to take magnetic pictures that show in 3-D where the mineral deposits were.

And through these two things, they made some fascinating discoveries. In part, that Afghanistan has deposits of certain mineral resources .... Listen to the Story
Mineral Wealth May Impact Afghanistan's Future
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