An Atlas of the Geology and Mineral Deposits of Ukraine was first compiled in the Ukrainian language after a long period of geological investigations. Its preparation was carried out using newly developed concepts in geology and geophysics, such as the evolution of the Earth’s crust, its fracturing and non-uniformity, its division into geoblocks, its tectonic-magmatic activation, geodynamics, metallogenesis and the emergence of metallogenic provinces. This English language edition of the Atlas contains 75 maps with short explanatory notes. During the compilation of various maps, extensive research was carried out on the existing literature in both the Ukrainian and Russian languages....

Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe. With an area of 603 700 sq. kilometers, it extends from north to south 893 km and from west to east 1316 km.

Ukraine borders on Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Romania and Slovakia. In the south Ukraine has a coastline on the Black and Azov seas. The total length of its frontiers is 6500 km, including 1050 km of sea coast.

Population (1.01.2002), 48.0 million; density, 82 persons per sq. km.

Ukraine is inhabited by many nationalities or ethnic groups. According to the population census of December 5, 2001, Ukrainians comprise...

The entire territory of Ukraine has been covered by an airborne magnetic survey at 1:200 000 scale, and some areas by more detailed surveys. Preliminary maps of anomalous magnetic fields at 1:200 000 and 1:1 000 000 scales have been issued and published.

In compiling maps of the anomalous magnetic fields, a reference grid has been used for reducing the field to a common level. This allowed not only analyses and interpretations of the observed field, but also performance of various transformations without any fear that “false” anomalies may appear on the boundaries of different maps. In this way, the...

The Quaternary deposits (anthropogenic) are widespread in most of Ukraine, except on the steep slopes of the Carpathian and Crimean Mountains, the Donets’ Ridge and the beds of rivers cutting the crystalline Ukrainian Shield. These deposits are characterized by variable lithological composition, relative thinness, and genetic variety. The most common genetic varieties are: eolian-deluvial loesses, glacial and glacial-water deposits, alluvial, eluvial, deluvial-colluvial and marine deposits. The thickest deposits (40-60 m) occur on lower ground which has undergone some neotectonic subsidence. At higher elevations, or uplifted grounds, the thicknesses of such deposits range from 5 to 12 m, and in the...

The level of geological coverage is determined first of all by the results of regional geological surveys. From the 1950s to the 1970s the entire country was mapped at a 1:200 000 scale. Medium-scale geological mapping was used in cases where more detailed data were required which were used for planning, detailed work and research. At the beginning of the 1970s, in the waning stages of the medium-scale mapping, large-scale geological mapping became widespread. It was during this time that new methods of regional investigation were applied, including “deep geological mapping” and “supplementary geological investigation” of areas.

Today, about 50.0%...

The aim of the lithological-facies maps is to enhance understanding of how the paleogeographic, sedimentary, denudation, climatic, physico-chemical, and biological processes influenced the formation and areal distribution of mineral deposits.

In total, 26 lithological-facies and paleogeographic maps of Ukraine (from Mesozoic through Cenozoic stages) have been compiled by “Geoprohnoz”, a State geological company. The maps provide a reconstruction of the paleogeographic environments (climate and physic-chemical characteristics of the basins, sedimentation and denudation processes) and thus establish some relationships in the formation and distribution of different mineral deposits. This Atlas includes only 3 of these maps which are characteristic of this...

Modern zonation of Ukraine into hydrogeological districts is based on geological-structural and hydrogeological fundamentals.

The territory of Ukraine is divided into two hydrogeological provinces – the platform plains and the folded mountainous parts of the country. They have different rates of lateral and radial water exchange. Within these hydrogeological provinces there are smaller subprovinces which can be distinguished by the age of the underlying geological structures. In the folded mountainous province, two subprovinces are recognized: the East European subprovince, which coincides with the East Carpathian Mountains, and the Scythian subprovince, which coincides with the Crimean Mountains.

Hydrogeological provinces and subprovinces are...

This map represents a synthesis of other maps on the sedimentary cover in Ukraine, particularly with reference to the dominant minerals of value in the sedimentary rocks.

The mineralogenic character of the post-Proterozoic period is in general similar to the Phanerozoic regions elsewhere in the world. Mineralization is controlled mainly by the structural lithological and facies aspects of the rocks. A significant influence on the mineralogeny of the sedimentary cover of the platform is produced by the structure of the basement rocks, particularly the reactivated fault systems. The most common types of mineralization include: precipitated, precipitated-infiltrated, placer, and hydrothermal. Other...