Presenters:
Stephen Titus
Brandon Ho
Matthew Lesser
University of Southern California
“This StoryMap provides an open-source GEOINT analysis of China’s rare-earth mineral prospecting strategies in Afghanistan, compared with its lithium mining operations in South America’s Lithium Triangle. Afghanistan’s untapped mineral wealth, valued at over $1 trillion, has become a focal point for China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), leveraging strategic hubs like the Nuristan Pegmatite Block and Gwadar Port. Similarly, South America’s lithium reserves, crucial for green energy transitions, highlight China’s integrated approach to global mineral supply chains. Using advanced geospatial methods, including Satellite Imagery Temporal Analysis and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) data, this analysis identifies logistical vulnerabilities, insurgent threats, and socio-environmental risks associated with large-scale mining.
This cross-regional comparison evaluates how lessons from South America’s established mining infrastructure can inform sustainable extraction strategies in Afghanistan’s volatile environment. By integrating geospatial analytics with political and environmental data, this report emphasizes actionable intelligence for stakeholders managing global critical mineral supply chains through the TCPED framework and highlights the implementation of Structural Analysis Techniques (SAT) to assess probable courses of action for Policymakers. The project highlights the role of GEOINT in addressing intelligence gaps, promoting sustainable mining practices, and enhancing strategic decision-making in global mineral extraction networks collected with Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) and provides recommendation for further employment of more robust, Remote Sensing platforms (Spectral Imaging/LiDAR).”
