Europe buys rare resource from Ukraine, found only here and in Scandinavia
Photo: Olena Remezova (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
Ukraine possesses a rare type of rock called labradorite. It is so rare that it can only be found in Scandinavia, and Europe has to buy it from Ukraine.
In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, Elena Remezova, Doctor of Sciences in Geology, Chief of Mineral Deposits Geology Department of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, shared this information.
According to her, Ukrainian labradorites are particularly unique, exhibiting iridescence in a variety of hues (a geological feature known for its characteristic optical effect, showing blue-green, yellow, or purple shades on the surface).
" I saw similar ones in Scandinavia when I was in Norway. But you rarely find such deposits elsewhere, which is why they buy from us," Remezova says.
Doctor of Geological Sciences added that these high-strength rocks are actually rare to find.
"In Italy and Germany, for example, they are almost nonexistent. We have less marble. There are small deposits of dolomite marble in the Zhytomyr region and small reserves in the Carpathians," she stated.
Agreement on subsoil resources between the US and Ukraine
On April 30, Ukraine and the US signed an agreement on economic cooperation (the so-called minerals deal).
On May 8, the Verkhovna Rada ratified the mineral resources agreement recently signed between Ukraine and the US. The agreement was approved by 338 members of parliament.
It is worth noting that Ukraine has significant deposits of rare earth metals, which are crucial for modern technologies. The main reserves are located in the Zhytomyr, Cherkasy regions, and the Eastern Azov region.
Additionally, Ukraine has substantial titanium reserves, which may account for up to 20% of the global supply.
