Where rare earth metals are found in Ukraine: Key regions revealed
Photo: Ukrainian regions with the largest deposits of rare earth metals (Getty Images)
Ukraine has significant deposits of rare earth metals, which are of great importance for modern technologies. The main reserves are concentrated in the Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions, as well as in the Eastern Azov region.
This was stated in an interview with RBC-Ukraine by Doctor of Science in Geology, Chief of Mineral Deposits Geology Department of the Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Olena Remezova.
Rare earth metals are a group of 17 chemical elements, including both heavy and light lanthanides and scandium. Despite their name, they are not extremely rare, but they occur in low concentrations in nature, which makes their extraction challenging.
Their main value lies in their critical importance for modern technologies, particularly in environmentally friendly manufacturing, defense industries, and electronics.
Ukraine has promising deposits of rare earth resources. In the Zhytomyr and Cherkasy regions, scandium is found in titanium ores and uranium production waste.
The Perzhanske deposit contains yttrium and ytterbium, while the Yastrebetse deposit holds zircon, fluorite, and lanthanide group metals.
Eastern Azov is one of the main areas of potential. Here, the Mazurivske and Azovske deposits are located. The latter is unique in its complexity, containing zirconium, lanthanum, cesium, and neodymium all in one place.
The Petrovo-Hnutivske deposit has rich reserves of parisite, a rare mineral with cerium, and the Novopoltavske deposit contains apatite with yttrium, samarium, terbium, europium, and others.
Rare earth metals
Ukraine holds significant reserves of metals, including lithium, titanium, graphite, and uranium, making it an important player in the global market.
However, despite having these resources, the extraction of lithium and other rare earth metals in Ukraine is still in the research and discussion stage. Meanwhile, the international community, particularly the United States, is actively interested in Ukrainian resources.
President Donald Trump expressed interest in reaching an agreement for access to Ukraine's rare earth metals in exchange for further military and economic support.
Subsequently, Ukraine and the United States signed an economic cooperation agreement (minerals deal). The Ukrainian state determines where and what to extract. The subsoil remains under Ukrainian ownership, as outlined in the agreement.
