Raw material base of crushed stone and rubble stone in Khmelnytskyi Region

Problem Statement. Analysis of the “Geoinform” archival materials indicates that the reserve of explored raw material deposits for crushed stone and rubble stone in Khmelnytskyi Region (that are suitable for operation based on the magnitude of reserves, environmental conditions, logistical requirements, etc.) is practically exhausted. Exploration work is not being conducted, the capacities of operating mining enterprises are far from fully utilized, and predominantly small-volume deposits are available for development. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a critical analysis of the current state of the raw material base for rubble and crushed stone in the Khmelnytskyi Region. This is especially crucial given that in the post-war period, the demand for increasing their production volumes will sharply rise for restoring housing and destroyed infrastructure. Presentation of the Main Material. The article analyzes the current state of research into deposits of raw materials for crushed stone and rubble production in the Khmelnytskyi Region. It shows the correlation of deposits with specific stratigraphic subdivisions and clarifies the general patterns of placement for various types of building stone deposits across the region. The degree of exploration of building stone deposits and their level of industrial development are analyzed. The territorial density (saturation of the territory) and the provision of explored reserves to the population of territorial units are calculated. The dynamics of raw material extraction in recent years are shown, and proposals for increasing extraction volumes in the region are presented. The areas occupied by active quarries under productive lands, unproductive lands, and forest areas have been identified. It’s concluded that the placement of a significant number of explored raw material reserves in the region on unproductive lands creates favorable prospects for their future development. Analysis of raw material extraction volumes at state and commercial enterprises in the region, the assortment of their products, and the long-terms of provision with reliable reserves allowed us to conclude that overall, the volumes of raw material extraction in the region are satisfactory, even compared to pre-war years. However, there is insufficient provision of reliable reserves for some active quarries, extraction is concentrated in just a few territorial communities, and many enterprises are insufficiently utilized compared to their design capacities. Conclusions. The article establishes patterns in the location of various types of crushed stone and rubble raw materials across the region. Calculations were made for the territorial density of explored reserves, their provision to individual administrative units, and the placement of explored deposits on productive, unproductive, and forest lands. Current volumes of raw material extraction and the provision of reliable reserves for active quarries have been determined, and possibilities for genuinely increasing raw material extraction in the region have been recommended.