GEOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL OF CONSTRUCTION RAW MATERIALS OF THE WESTERN REGION OF UKRAINE

Abstract

The article presents a concise analysis of the geological and economic potential of construction raw materials in the Western region of Ukraine under conditions of modern economic transformations and post-war recovery of the state. The relevance of forming an efficient mineral resource base is substantiated, and the tectonic structure of the region as well as the stratigraphic prerequisites for the formation of deposits are described in detail. A geological characterization of specific deposits of carbonate, clay, sand and gravel, and volcanogenic raw materials is provided, including the thickness of deposits, depth of occurrence, and mining conditions. A comprehensive geological and economic assessment of the deposits has been carried out, taking into account reserves, stripping ratio, mining conditions, transport accessibility, and market demand. It has been established that the economic efficiency of deposit development largely depends on logistical factors and proximity to consumers, as well as on the technological features of extraction. It is shown that carbonate and sand-gravel raw materials are characterized by relatively low production costs, whereas volcanogenic rocks involve higher extraction costs, which are compensated by the high performance properties of the final products. Particular attention is paid to the environmental aspects of deposit development, including the impact of open-pit mining on soil cover, relief, hydrogeological regime, and air quality. The risks of disturbance of natural ecosystems, changes in the water balance of territories, and intensification of erosion processes are considered. The necessity of implementing land reclamation, environmental monitoring, and environmental impact assessment as integral components of the geological and economic evaluation of deposits is substantiated. The prospects for the development of the mineral resource base of the Western region of Ukraine are substantiated based on the principles of sustainable nature management, rational use of resources, and integration of environmental standards into subsoil use processes. It is determined that the combination of favorable natural conditions, advantageous geographical location, and modern mining technologies creates the prerequisites for the efficient utilization of the region’s resource potential, which is an important factor in economic stabilization and post-war recovery of the state.