September 30, 2011
1 min read
Add Us On GoogleAdd SciAmAfghanistan: Rare Earth Elements Could Beat the Taliban [Slide Show]
Vast deposits of rare earth and critical minerals found in Afghanistan by U.S. geologists under military cover could solve world shortages and get the country off opium and out from under Taliban control. Photos show their gutsy excursions
By Sarah Simpson
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Vast deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals found in Afghanistan by U.S. geologists under military cover could solve world shortages and help to shift the country from Taliban control and an economy that relies in large part on opium production. The photos here show the gutsy excursions of these field researchers. For details and a map revealing what they've found, see Afghanistan's Buried Riches.
» View a slide show of geologists' efforts in Afghanistan
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