The main territory of the Stavropol Territory is located on the eponymous hill. In the east, it smoothly merges with the Tersko-Kum lowland. In the north, it also neatly passes into the Kumo-Manych depression. The southwestern part of the region is the foothills of the Greater Caucasus. Its mountains-laccoliths form a practically isolated territory - the region of the Caucasian Mineral Waters. What is mined in the Stavropol Territory? What minerals are present here? About it below.
Brief description of mineral resources
Minerals in the Stavropol Territory are stored in three hundred deposits. According to the estimated cost of underground deposits, 42 percent is accounted for by building materials. Fossils containing hydrocarbons are estimated at 38%. A tenth is given to water resources. The remaining 10 percent falls on the remaining mineral resources - titanium-zirconium placers, sand for glass production, mineral and thermal springs. Separately, it is necessary to single out small deposits of polymetals, one of the products of which is uranium.
But the question is not only what minerals the Stavropol Territory is rich in. In addition to mineral resources, water and plant resources of nature should be distinguished. They are also not deprived of the edge.
Water resources
More than two hundred rivers, large and small, flow in the territory of Stavropol Territory. There are also thirty-eight lakes, mainly saline and bitterly saline. The uneven distribution of water resources over the territory of the region served as the basis for the largest water management complex in Russia for the transfer of wastewater from the Kuban and Terek rivers. This center provides 80% of the water supply in the Stavropol Territory. Forecasts of specialists are reduced to the fact that in the near future we will bring a shortage of fresh groundwater. This does not threaten the Stavropol Territory, because now only a tenth of the reserves are used. There is enough water in the Malkinsky deposit to meet the needs of all the Caucasian Mineral Waters.
If we talk about what minerals are in the Stavropol Territory, we can note its uniqueness in the fact that in a relatively small area there are more than forty types of mineral waters. Here they are canteens, canteens and medicinal. Recently, the list has expanded due to radon, iodine-bromide, ferruginous, silicon and bitter-salty waters. There are also Tambukan therapeutic mud deposits. Today, only one fifth of hydromineral resources is used, but this is enough to annually provide the necessary resources to one and a half million tourists.
Plant and animal resources
The plant genetic fund includes more than two thousand species, which is one of the highest rates in Russia. The peculiar relief has contributed to the fact that both endemic species (growing only here) and relic samples are present here. To preserve this diversity, mainly from human exposure, the creation of botanical and integrated natural reserves. Stavropol Territory is one of the least forested in Russia. Only one and a half percent of the territory is occupied by forests. They are divided into mountain and plain. The animal world is also diverse and is represented by amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals in the amount of more than four hundred species.
We described above what water, plant and animal resources the Stavropol Territory has. We will consider minerals further.
Minerals used in construction
Speaking specifically about Stavropol, the main minerals coming from the regional center are mined in the Pelagiad. We are talking about building sands, stones and rubble. This quarry has been under development for seventy years. In almost every city in the region there are houses that are built from materials extracted from this field. Sand and gravel mixtures are rich in the valleys of the Kuban and Malki rivers, Kochubeyevsky district. The reserves of almost two hundred deposits of building materials - sand and gravel mixtures, building sands, stones, expanded clay clays - are estimated at eight hundred million cubic meters. Existing volumes would allow the production of building materials for more than thirty years.
But if you evaluate the Stavropol Territory,
building- type
minerals are extracted every year at an accelerated pace. Although it should be noted that in a significant part of the fields further exploration and reserves growth are possible.
Oil production of Stavropol
The region belongs to the oldest oil-producing centers of the country. If the neighboring Krasnodar lands are the oldest place in Russia for oil production, Stavropol also fell behind for a short time. Minerals rich in hydrocarbons were mined here in the same nineteenth century. Today, nearly fifty deposits have been explored. Their reserves are estimated at over eighty million tons.
The most famous oil field in the Stavropol Territory is Praskoveyskoye. But, unfortunately, seventy percent of the deposits are hard to recover. To develop them is considered unprofitable. And the main deposits are developed by almost two-thirds. Today's production is significantly inferior to the one that was half a century ago. At the current rate of extraction, the profitability of resources will last no more than ten years.
Natural gas
In addition to oil deposits, the Stavropol Territory is also rich in gas deposits. Minerals of this type are stored in seventeen deposits. Natural gas reserves are estimated at nearly fifty million cubic meters. The North-Stavropol-Pelagiadinskoye and Sengileevskoye are the most famous deposits of blue fuel in the Stavropol Territory. Gas condensate was found mainly in the Mirnensky and Rashevatsky deposits. Natural gas production over the past twenty years has decreased from five hundred to three hundred million cubic meters. Deterioration of the well stock and their 70% production does not allow us to expect an increase in production in the near future.
Titanium Zirconia Sands
Minerals in the Stavropol Territory such as titanium-zirconium sands are almost unique. Over ninety percent of this material in Russia is imported. At the same time, the Stavropol Territory is rich in raw materials. Beshpagir stands out especially, where the width of the sand layer reaches five meters, and they themselves lie at a depth of twenty meters.
Quartz sand
You can also note the quartz sand, which is rich in the Stavropol Territory. Minerals of this type are mined in the Blagodarnenskoye and Spassky deposits. The excellent quality of sand - practically without impurities with a high silica content - allows, in addition to standard glass containers and sheet material, to make medical and optical devices, mirror devices. This sand is also used for the production of crystal and art casting. A window glass production based on this field is under development.