Minerals in Afghanistan : The Aynak Copper Deposit

The area around Aynak, 30 km south-south-east of Kabul in south-east Afghanistan, has been the focus of copper working since ancient times. Numerous old excavations and pits, as well as remains of smelting furnaces, have been discovered at Aynak and also nearby at Darband and Jawkhar. In 1974, Russian geologists prospected and mapped the Kabul area and rediscovered the Aynak, Darband and Jawkhar copper prospects. In 1974–1976 and again in 1978–1989, the Soviet Geological Mission conducted detailed exploration of Aynak, but this work ceased in 1989 with the withdrawal of Russian advisors, and the subsequent civil war halted any further work.