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Thread: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

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    Default Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Vast deposits of lithium and other minerals have been discovered in Afghanistian.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/wo...4minerals.html

    Looks like the fear of China gaining a monopoly on lithium turned out to be nothing to worry about. I'm sure more deposits will be found in other places too in the future.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    ^^^ so now all that is needed to actually 'extract' any of these mineral resources is ...

    - a stable enough Afghan gov't to allow private mine investors assurance that their future mine won't be nationalized by a future Afghan gov't.

    - assurances from the US gov't that our military efforts / spending won't be cut off over the next few years leaving Afghanistan open to a de-facto 'takeover' by Russian / Chinese / other foreign interests

    - assurance that local labor necessary to operate such mines won't be inclined to sabotage the 'investment' of foreign infidels.


    The 'gold foil hat' crowd would tell you that making bets on a roulette wheel involve lower risks than investing in Afghan mining.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Now that they might have something to export other than heroin and dirt stability might reach the population.

    That's if they are not exploited. Not like that hasn't happened before...

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    With high risks, come high rewards.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Once again, the conservative, sandwich-heavy portfolio pays off for the hungry investor
    - Dr John Zoidberg

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    ^^^ "person" is right. This is old news and frankly is virtually irrelevant. In addition to the problems Melonie listed, it should also be kept in mind that Afghanistan has virtually no roads and no power grid to speak of. The costs associated with extracting and shipping the lithium and other minerals are so huge that the deposits might as well be on the Moon.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    ^^^ yup as the US / allied military forces in Afghanistan are all too aware, Afghanistan also has no access to a seaport ! Thus, after mining and refining ( via non-existant mines, non-existant refineries, using non-existant electricity and non-existant water), every pound of material would then have to be trucked through Pakistan ( good luck !!! ) or through one of the former Soviet 'stans' ( good luck as well !!! )

    PS the US can find all of the Lithium it will ever need in Bolivia ... a country that is increasingly supportive of private investment ( well, until the next 'national emergency' anyhow ).

    The 'gold foil hat' crowd would tell you that this resurrection of the Afghan minerals non-story at this particular point in time did not have an ECONOMIC purpose.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    ^^^ yup as the US / allied military forces in Afghanistan are all too aware, Afghanistan also has no access to a seaport ! Thus, after mining and refining ( via non-existant mines, non-existant refineries, using non-existant electricity and non-existant water), every pound of material would then have to be trucked through Pakistan ( good luck !!! ) or through one of the former Soviet 'stans' ( good luck as well !!! )

    PS the US can find all of the Lithium it will ever need in Bolivia ... a country that is increasingly supportive of private investment ( well, until the next 'national emergency' anyhow ).

    The 'gold foil hat' crowd would tell you that this resurrection of the Afghan minerals non-story at this particular point in time did not have an ECONOMIC purpose.
    Of course it's purpose was not economic. Where did it appear ? The New York Times; a shameless cheerleader for Obama. Who was the ultimate "source" for the info ? The U.S. military. The last time they did a minerals survey they discovered gold in the Black Hills leading directly to Custer getting massacred at the Little Big Horn.

    As has been pointed out, the "discovery" was nothing new. These deposits were known about 30 ( THIRTY ! ) years ago. The Russians never even tried extracting them. The only country currently making any effort is China. They're the only ones with the hundreds of billions needed to build the roads and the power supply and probably lay the railroad track needed to get the ores to refineries and then to a seaport in either Pakhistan or Iran.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    The hidden messages in all this are : (1) unless the Afghans have a strong and stable government, they will not be able to capitalize on their assets, whatever they are; (2) if nothing had been done there, regardless of Bin Laden et al, it would have become even more of a failed state and no failed state should be allowed to exist because of the overt threat to its neighbors and nearby visitors (eg pirates, terrorists); (3) there are many advantages to the entire world for countries to be strong enough to actively participate in the "community of nations", as almost every country has some valued resource to offer; (4) it is too bad that other countries do not have the guts to do what it takes to assure that undeveloped countries with weak governments are helped to avoid near failed-state status as this is never any good for anyone.

    This approach is just the same as a blighted house in the neighborhood so as to avoid it becoming a home for druggies, rats, snakes, and a worrisome depression on its neighbors. In that sense alone we need to be our "brothers' keepers." Even if we cannot afford sympathies on its citizens.
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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Stoner View Post
    Of course it's purpose was not economic. Where did it appear ? The New York Times; a shameless cheerleader for Obama. Who was the ultimate "source" for the info ? The U.S. military.
    It seems, to you, any positive news durinig a Democratic administration means you need to bring up your inbred cynicism and link it to some massive, corrupt, inept collusion. Sheesh! Who the hell cares what stories any newspapers obviously cook up to increase circulation?

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Stoner View Post
    The last time they did a minerals survey they discovered gold in the Black Hills leading directly to Custer getting massacred at the Little Big Horn.
    And the time before that gold was discovered in North Carolina (recall the Dalonega mint), resulting in the Cherokee residents there being summarily evacuated from the area leaving their possessions behind for thieves to carry off to their benefit, massive deprivation and deaths during the year-long "Trail of Tears." Thank you, Mr. "Populist" Andrew Jackson.
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Despite these obstacles, capitalism will find a way. Just wait and see. Nothing there cannot be overcome.

    Back in the Political Poo days we had discussed wind farms which were not in locations where much power could be transported out. I stated that this would be a major obstacle and that some development would be needed to reduce the costs of stations needed to geed the arrays into the power grid. Well, those projects now are in limbo because the transmission facilities proved to be too expensive in today's economic balance.

    In the Afghan case it is not the cost of infrastructure, but the reliability of the government in being able to support those facilities. Watch and see if I'm right about that observation too.
    I loved going to strip clubs; I actually made some friends there. Now things are different for the clubs and for me. As a result I am not as happy.

    Customers are not entitled to grope, disrespect, or rob strippers. This is their job, not their hobby, and they all need income. Clubs are not just some erotic show for guys to view while drinking.

    NOTE: anything I post here, outside of a direct quote, is my opinion only, which I am entitled to. Take it for what you estimate it is worth.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie View Post
    ^^^ so now all that is needed to actually 'extract' any of these mineral resources is ...

    - a stable enough Afghan gov't to allow private mine investors assurance that their future mine won't be nationalized by a future Afghan gov't.

    - assurances from the US gov't that our military efforts / spending won't be cut off over the next few years leaving Afghanistan open to a de-facto 'takeover' by Russian / Chinese / other foreign interests

    - assurance that local labor necessary to operate such mines won't be inclined to sabotage the 'investment' of foreign infidels.


    The 'gold foil hat' crowd would tell you that making bets on a roulette wheel involve lower risks than investing in Afghan mining.
    I'm sure you would have been making the same pessimistic predictions about China and India becoming modern industrialized economies 35 years ago.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Quote Originally Posted by Eric Stoner View Post
    ^^^ "person" is right. This is old news and frankly is virtually irrelevant. In addition to the problems Melonie listed, it should also be kept in mind that Afghanistan has virtually no roads and no power grid to speak of. The costs associated with extracting and shipping the lithium and other minerals are so huge that the deposits might as well be on the Moon.
    China didn't have much in the way of roads or a power grid 35 years ago. Neither did Saudi Arabia 40 - 50 years ago.

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    Default Re: Vast deposits of lithium found in Afghanistan

    Quote Originally Posted by eagle2 View Post
    China didn't have much in the way of roads or a power grid 35 years ago. Neither did Saudi Arabia 40 - 50 years ago.
    Once again ignoring the practical REALITIES and several important differences among the countries you cite vis a vis Afghanistan :

    Both China and Saudi Arabia have huge coastlines and PORTS. So does India.
    Both China and Saudi Arabia ( and India ) have political stability without Civil War.
    All three adopted policies encouraging development and MODERNIZATION.
    All three experienced development by adopting market and capitalist policies.
    Only China has substantial portions of its country with geographical challenges remotely resembling those of Afghanistan.
    China and India both had infrastructure created by the British and other European powers. Afghanistan resisted same for over a century.

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