Afghanistan's ministry of mining announced the discovery of an oil deposit in the northern region of the country, estimating reserves of 1.8 billion bbl.A ministry spokesman said it is a "totally new oil deposit, which extends in a triangle between Balkh, Hairatan, and Shuburghan."The spokesman did not explain how the reserve estimate was made but said geologists would conduct further assessments over the next 6 months and the field would be tendered when they are finished.Word of the new field follows an announcement in June that Afghanistan would begin an oil tender process in July or August aimed at attracting foreign investors."We are going to tender the Kashkari oil bl...