Iron Ore: Afghanistan and Television Address

iron ore: Trump was to lay out his long-awaited strategy for Afghanistan in a prime-time television address to the American people on Monday night, the White House said Sunday, with a modest increase in U.S. troops possible. ; Ever since a United States Geological Survey study a decade ago identified deposits later estimated to have a potential value of as much as 1 trillion, both Afghan and foreign officials have trumpeted the reserves as a likely key to economic independence for Afghanistan, according to The Japan Times. As well as deposits of gold, silver and platinum, Afghanistan has significant quantities of iron ore, uranium, zinc, tantalum, bauxite, coal, natural gas and significant copper a particular draw given the dearth of rich new copper mines globally. But investors who have studied the country, one of the world's most dangerous, say the idea is a pipe dream. Afghanistan, some reports say, even has the potential to become the Saudi Arabia of lithium, thanks to deposits of the raw material which is used in phone and electric car batteries. Much of the basic data dates back to the Soviet occupation in the 1980s. But a lack of basic logistics paved roads and rail links needed to export copper concentrate or iron ore as well as pervasive corruption, a messy bureaucracy, and a growing insurgency that has left much of the country beyond the writ of the Kabul government have all stifled attempts to build a legitimate mining sector. (news.financializer.com). As reported in the news.