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Mines and Mineral Occurrences of Afghanistan

Frequently-anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Orris, Greta J. , and Bliss, James D. , 2002, Mines and Mineral Occurrences of Afghanistan: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-110, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of02-110/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: 60.45

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: 75.0

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.5

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 29.25

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Calendar_Date: 2002

   Currentness_Reference:

   Much of the data dates from the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, although the published sources had more recent dates.

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: Microsoft Excel 98 spreadsheet

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      Indirect_Spatial_Reference:

      Geographic coordinates are provided for each location, however it is important to consider the information given in the comments field of each row to interpret the geographic coordinates properly.

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   The following attributes exist in the OF02XXX spreadsheet of the data.
   1. Locality/Deposit Name
   2. Synonyms and Other Names or Spellings
   3. Deposit or District Name
   4. Province
   5. Latitude - degrees, minutes, seconds
   6. Longitude - degrees, minutes, seconds
   7. Commodity(s) - This field contains one or more standard symbols for chemical elements along with abbreviations for minerals and other commodities as follows:
   

    Abbrev  Commodity
     Arag    aragonite
     Asb     asbestos
     Ba      barite
     Bri     brine
     COA     coal
     COLL    collectibles
     Ca      calcite
     Cly     clay
     Dol     dolomite
     Epi     epidote
     F       fluorite
     Fld     feldspar
     GEM     gemstones
     GRF     graphite
     Gar     garnet
     Gyp     gypsum
     Hal     halite
     Lst     limestone
     Mbl     marble
     Mg      magnesium, magnesite
     Mica    mica, muscovite
     NaCO    Sodium carbonate
     Oli     olivine
     Peat    peat
     Qtz     quartz
     REE     rare earths
     SDG     sand and gravel
     Serp    serpentine
     Shl     shale
     Si      silica
     Tlc     talc
   

   8. Type of Deposit - brief deposit description
   9. Status
   10. Host Rock Age
   11. Host Rock
   12. Significant Minerals or Materials
   13. Deposit Size and (or) Grade
   14. Comments (explains location values)
   15. References (these are in-text citations; the full bibliographic references are given in the report)
   16. Decimal Latitude
   17. Decimal Longitude

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: <http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of02-110/of02-110.pdf>

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Greta J. Orris
   • James D. Bliss

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   G.J. Orris and J.D. Bliss compiled the data on Afghanistan mineral resources from previously published compilations, other published sources, and project files. Locations were taken from published sources; no effort was made to determine the correctness of these data beyond a preliminary review to be sure they plot in the correct country and reconciliation of duplicate and conflicting data where possible. Most of the latitudes-longitudes are believed to be within 5 minutes of their true locations, but other locations may be highly inaccurate.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Dr. Greta J. Orris
   U.S. Geological Survey
   520 N. Park Ave.; Suite 355
   Tucson, AZ 85719
   USA
   

   (520) 670-5583 (voice)
   greta@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

This dataset was compiled due to interest in Afghanistan and anticipated continuing interest as post-war aid and reconstruction begin.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 2002 (process 1 of 1)

   Data were separated into various fields (categories) within the Excel spreadsheet. Duplicates were removed where identified and inconsistencies reconciled or noted in the Comments field.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   The accuracy of file data attributes is highly variable, based on the compilers' evaluation of the source literature. The data tables were proofed against the original reports.

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   Most locations are believed to be within 5 minutes of the correct location. The latitudes and longitudes were largely taken directly from the published literature. The accuracy of these locations varies with the detail of the original information.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   This report is the most complete compilation of Afghanistan mines, deposits, and occurrences known. However, it is highly likely that there are additional sites that are not included. In addition, data for many of the sites are incomplete. Determination of latitudes and longitudes for some sites with no published location were impossible given the available data.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   Point data is given in latitude and longitude decimal degrees. Location errors are a result of incorrect original data, error caused by multiple locations with the same name, and error introduced by data entry or location format conversion.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None.

Use_Constraints:

This digital database is not meant to be used or displayed at any scale larger than 1:1,000,000.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   USGS Information Services Open-File Report Sales
   Box 25286
   Denver, CO 80225
   

   (303)202-4700 (voice)
   (303)202-4188 (FAX)
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

   USGS Open-File Report 02-110

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides these geographic data "as is." The USGS makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the geographic data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although these data have been processed successfully on computers at the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the geographic data or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by USGS.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Latitudes, longitudes, commodity information, commodity, and geologic data for mines, deposits, and occurrences of Afghanistan in format Excel 95/98 Workbook Size: 0.404 megabytes
     Network links:	<http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of02-110/of02-110.xls>

   • Cost to order the data: None

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 20-Mar-2002
Last Reviewed: 25-Mar-2002

Metadata author:

Dr. Greta J. Orris
U.S. Geological Survey
520 N. Park Ave. Suite 355
Tucson, AZ 85719
USA

(520) 670-5583 (voice)
greta@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)