TITLE:
Economic Significance of Hajigak and Syadara Iron Deposits, Bamyan Province Afghanistan
AUTHORS:
Mohammad Hussain Gorziwani
KEYWORDS:
Hajigak, Syadara, Iron Ore, Afghanistan, Economic Geology, Mineral Resources
JOURNAL NAME:
International Journal of Geosciences,
Vol.16 No.8,
August
21,
2025
ABSTRACT: Afghanistan has three major natural potentials for its development (the potential of goods and energy transit, the potential of controlling the flowing waters in the country, the potential of using mineral resources). The Hajigak and adjacent Syadara iron deposits in Bamyan Province, central Afghanistan, represent some of the largest and highest-grade iron reserves in Asia. The large Iron deposit of Hajigak is located in the heights of Baba mountains, 100 km northwest of Kabul. Some organizations have estimated the value of the country’s mineral resources as high as 3000 billion dolars. Most of these resources are located in Bamyan province. The main advantage of Bamyan province is having abundant coal resources and rich iron deposits in the vicinity. Preliminary and semi-detailed studies show that Hajigak reserves are at least more than two billion tons of iron ore. According to the studies conducted by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, the minimum amount of iron ore reserves in Syadara deposit is estimated to be more than 500 million tons. Mineral resources, including Hajigak and Syadara iron deposits in Bamyan Province, are the engine of all-round development of the industry in Afghanistan. The Hajigak iron deposit was formed as a result of contact metasomatism as a result of granite uplift in the Oligocene. This paper examines their geological setting, resource potential, economic viability, infrastructure requirements, and strategic importance, aiming to provide a comprehensive overview suitable for publication in international scientific journals.