Afghanistan’s Lapis Lazuli Mines – Source of Taliban Income?

Earlier than we get into the entire of Afghanistan’s Lapis Lazuli Mines matter…

First, I’ll set some floor guidelines for myself and ask that you just kindly hold to the identical in any commenting (these are just about the foundations I stick with for what I put up about, normally, so I can discern if it’s throughout the realm of what our neighborhood is anticipating to be taught from me and likewise not contribute to any division or separation… sure subjects have a means of doing that even when it’s not the unique intention)

Floor Guidelines

1. No political dialogue – please put politics apart
2. No spiritual dialogue – please put faith apart
3. No vaccine dialogue – please put opinions apart (WTH does that need to do with this matter? I don’t know — however by some means, these days, it finally ends up sneaking into every little thing so I’m simply placing it on the market… keep off this matter right here too.)
4. No citing the final ethics of mining minerals (I’ve already written an opinion piece on that topic here, feel free to dive in deep and comment there on that — BUT NOT HERE).

(Any rule-breaking feedback will merely be deleted… so please don’t hassle losing your time.)

Don’t neglect to obtain your FREE 9 Suggestions for Recognizing Pretend Lapis Lazuli pdf earlier than you allow! This can even subscribe you to my bi-weekly publication.

Fouling up Afghanistan’s Lapis Lazuli Mines

So yep, we’re speaking in regards to the extraordinarily engaging + precious semi-treasured stone, lapis lazuli right here once more in the present day. In case you didn’t know, the out-of-the-means Afghan province of Badakshan has been the birthplace of most of the world’s lovely and extremely coveted Lapis Lazuli for at the very least 6,000 years.

In spite of being one of the poorest nations on the planet, geologists worth Afghanistan’s historical mine shafts and mineral sources at roughly $1 trillion!!

Yeah, TRILLION with a “T”.

So in the present day I wish to AGAIN, handle the subject of the Taliban fouling up Afghanistan’s cherished Lapis Lazuli mines (and that of different minerals too). It was beforehand reported that the Afghan Lapis Lazuli income had been being channeled straight into the pockets of senior politicians, leaders, and prime officers, however on the identical time, had additionally turn into a serious supply of revenue for the Taliban and different revolutionary militias. After all, not being there in individual to witness this, I’ve been going off of the various studies from each media and first-hand eye witness of mineral sellers from that space.

Phrase on the road is that:

All Afghan mineral sources (not simply lapis) had been the property of the federal government, however a number of years in the past the Badakshan mines had been commandeered by a former common, now-warlord, Abdul Malik.

By “leasing” the rights to make use of the mines out to unlawful miners, it now appears Malik basically declared the mine his (and the Taliban’s) and is raking in tens of millions of {dollars} per 12 months!

And, on account of latest occasions, evidently The Taliban is now in FULL management (extra so now than ever earlier than!) of $1 trillion price of unlawful mining of minerals — stealing from Afghanistan’s extraordinary pure abundance.

Along with the corruption I’ve already addressed, Afghanistan ranks a measly one hundred and sixty fifth out of 180 nations within the Transparency International’s latest assessment/report on dishonest and prison commerce across the Earth.

The United Nations has approximated that the Taliban’s mineral revenue is their second-largest supply of income. Opium being the primary.

Therefore, Afghan lapis is certainly a battle mineral — in case there was any doubt.

You can read more on this topic in this BBC article if you like.

THIS IS NOT NEW!

I’ve been reporting on it, researching, and attempting to convey consideration to this matter for 5 years:

It is a matter I’ve been fairly captivated with —

but nonetheless uneasy about addressing for the exact same causes that it made me nervous once I first introduced it up again in 2016. However on account of latest occasions, I really feel I’ve a duty to convey it up… once more.

5 years in the past, when this downside first got here to mild for me, I made a decision I’ve an obligation to take benefit of the platform I’m very grateful to have right here in our on-line crystal neighborhood.  I made a decision to disregard my little uneasy sensations and power (once I get these emotions it often implies that I SHOULD share my ideas).

What provides me this anxiousness round addressing this difficulty?:

• the controversy
• the political power round it
• presumably not having all of the info straight
• utilizing the phrase “Taliban” on the open Web

Ideas going by way of my head:

• Possibly, some will get very indignant with me for bringing it up (as a result of it should depart them caught with lapis inventory they can’t transfer.)
• Possibly I’ll get canceled. (Can’t assume of a motive why I ought to however nowadays, some get offended + “off to the races” social media goes — so WHO KNOWS!)
• Possibly I’m fallacious to maintain bringing it up… however I really feel a stronger want than ever to convey consciousness to this example.

Why?

Nicely, it appeared prior to now once I introduced it up — it was seen as an inconvenient fact that nobody actually wished to listen to about or faux wasn’t taking place. I may inform as a result of different subjects I talked or blogged about would get excessive engagement however this one?… kind of stayed MUM.

“Sweep that shit below the crystal store rug!”

For each sure sellers and for some who wished to go on blissfully amassing their Lapis and maybe pretending false ignorance, ignoring + burying their head within the sand gave them a helpful permission slip I suppose.

Possibly I’m fallacious about this. And I’m not attempting to inform you what the answer right here is! I’m no skilled on this space and positively not certified to give you an answer. And I’m not doing this to purposely ruffle feathers both.

I simply need:

1. you to learn
2. inform you what I’m doing
3. after which you may discern for your self what the best factor FOR YOU to do is.

Hopefully, this time, together with your assist, this weblog put up and data will get extra eyes and a focus on it than the final two have. I simply need us all to have the information first after which you can also make an knowledgeable determination.

My mission is to create a educated Crystal Household in order that we are able to make sensible + educated choices when including specimens to our sacred assortment.

Lapis scarab. Walters Artwork Museum [Public domain]

I don’t agree that merely ignoring it should clear up a rattling factor.

Not sorry.

Why else ought to we care and remember?

It is a good instance of how unlawful commerce in a mineral that was left ignored + unchecked (for at the very least 5 years that I do know of) can ultimately result in profiteering, exploitation and likewise open the door for teams just like the Taliban to thrive and take over.

Widespread Afghan Minerals

Lapis isn’t the one mineral to be careful for!

Different fashionable Afghan minerals embody:

• fluorite
• numerous corundums: rubies, sapphires
• numerous quartz
• numerous tourmaline
• emerald
• garnet
• numerous beryls: aquamarine, emeralds
• kunzite
• topaz

What I’m Doing

I’m nonetheless sticking to my outdated recreation-plan:

After I first discovered of the problem, I made a decision years in the past to not buy ANY Lapis Lazuli till I hear that issues have been restored to regular there. Sadly, it’s clear that issues have gotten worse.

After I addressed this again in 2016, I additionally determined to change our required faculty provides for my Certified Crystal Practitioner Course to verify to not embody any lapis in any respect.

Used with permission. (photograph credit score: fr:Consumer:Luna04 )

So, I’m nonetheless not buying any new lapis (even when it’s been round in somebody’s store for years) — as a result of that can create a void, a requirement within the provide chain; a necessity for the store proprietor to get extra for another person. (Until that store proprietor chooses to not carry Lapis).

No, I’m not dumping or getting rid of the lapis I had acquired earlier than this all got here to mild. What good would that do? Simply as I’ve acknowledged that my diamond wedding ceremony ring is most definitely a Blood Diamond. We now know higher, we do higher. That’s the best way I see it anyway.

Please, don’t take that as a suggestion. I’m not preaching what anybody else ought to do. As I’ve stated earlier than, I don’t know what the best answer is! That is simply what I’ve determined to do and all I need is the phrase to get out about this and for it to NOT be ignored. Maybe you may put up a superb answer or thought within the feedback beneath? However let’s please hold the dialogue OPEN on this and never shut it down.

In the event you’d like to assist; sharing this put up in as many locations as you may assume of could be actually supportive and helpful!

GOOD NEWS: You Have Lapis Choices!!!

Check out my tips here on that.

This Lapis is from Chile, present extra gray (calcite) and no pyrite… but it surely’s nonetheless the true deal.

The following tips (hyperlink above) haven’t modified since 2016. 🙂

Pretend Lapis is an Subject Too!

Ugh. The fakes. One other factor to be careful for.

Sure, because of the excessive costs of lapis it’s a generally faked mineral.

In the event you’d like my assist in steering clear of them you may obtain my FREE 9 Suggestions for Recognizing Pretend Lapis Lazuli pdf!  This can even subscribe you to my bi-weekly publication.

A Request 🙏

If that is resonating with you… if you happen to agree with some or all my factors right here then —

**Please SHARE this data with different crystal lovers in order that all of us keep within the know and effectively-knowledgeable.

And no matter your ideas, please do share your remark beneath. I don’t thoughts a respectful debate in any respect. We will disagree and nonetheless be pals. ♥ 🙂 However please do bear in mind to thoughts my guidelines from above. Thanks!

Crystal Blessings,