KANDAHAR CITY (PAN)  Known as a hub and one of the rich provinces in mineral and natural resources, a number of mines reservoirs are discovered in various districts of the volatile Kandahar.
However, a broad survey would to be conducted yet to find out all natural and unexplored reservoirs in the province.
Pajhwok Afghan News has made public information on mines identified by the provincial geology department and a number of international entities.
1: Iron mine:
The iron mine is located 60 kilometres north of Kandahar province in Khakriz district. The primary survey estimated $8. 5 million tons iron available in the mine. However, it could not be extracted because of widespread insecurity and lawlessness.
2:  Marble mine:
The white marble mine known as Dara-i-Noor mine is located along Herat- Kabul highway in Maiwand district of Kandahar province. Size of the mine could not be known due to security reasons. Maiwand district is located at a distance of 70 kilometres from Kandahar city.
3: Fluorite mine:
Fluorite precious stones’ mine is located in Bakhot mountain of Nish district in Kandahar. The district is located 160 kilometres to the north of Kandahar city.
According to provincial officials of mining and petroleum department, the contract for extraction for the mine was signed between the Mining and Petroleum Ministry and Al-Sayeed Khushhal Company in 2006, but again to growing insecurity its extraction was halted.  
4: Stucco mine:
The stucco mine is located to the east of Kandahar city and to the north of Daman district stretched in a desert. Several groups have started extracting of mines but it was not known whether the extraction had any legal status. The mine is five meters wide and 2.5 meters deep. Locals export stucco after extraction for processing and then take to the market for further sell.
A total of 22, 242 cubic meters stucco is being extracted from this mine annually and those who associated with the business pay certain amount of tax per cubic meter to the government.
5: Cement mine:
The cement mine is located 14 kilometres east of Kandahar city, which is located from a textile factory to Zakir Sharif dam in Dand district.  
The cement mine included other carbonate sheets and mixed stucco-cement mine in its three kilometers area.  
6: Coal mine:
The coal mine was discovered by geologists about four decades back in Spin Boldak district’s mountains after a primary survey, but its size has not determined.  
Other mines:
There are other mines of copper in Spin Boldak and Mianishin districts and green marble mines in Maiwand and Khakriz districts but the government has miserably failed to utilize or unearth the rich natural resources, which could help strengthen the country’s aid dependent economy.
The Kandahar minerals and petroleum department has held out assurances it could conduct broad survey to identify hidden natural resources elsewhere in the province if measures are taken to improve security and law and order in the province.