Due to its large territory, Ukraine has unique topography and soil types. It gives the country a variety of mineral resources. Today, Ukraine has the following main types:
- Fuel (gas, oil shale, peat, black coal);
- Ore springs (iron, manganese, copper, nickel, aluminum, cobalt);
- Non-metallic minerals (graphite);
- Mineral chemistry;
- Unique metals (titanium, zirconium, germanium, molybdenum, strontium, tin, tungsten, uranium);
- Precious and decorative stones;
- Building and industrial minerals.
The distinctive feature of Ukraine’s mineral and raw material base is its complexity. The country possesses 117 of the world’s 120 minerals. The country is actively developing the field of manganese, titanium-zirconium, and uranium ores. The country also produces non-metallic minerals in significant quantities, including kaolin, refractory and bentonite clays, limestone, dolomites, potassium salts, sulfur, graphite, gypsum, etc.
There are also prospective fossils in the lands of Ukraine. So-called "minerals of the future" or scarce kinds of raw materials are also present in Ukrainian depths. Among such underground riches are:
- Lithium;
- Cobalt;
- Nickel;
- Gallium;
- Gold;
- Titanium;
- Niobium, etc.
With state support for the mining industry and the creation of suitable conditions (such as an investment climate), mining may become a cause of economic development in Ukraine. Some experts note that this development could lead Ukraine to the top rankings of the world’s largest producing countries.
