The Samara region, located on the East European Plain in the middle reaches of the Volga, is a rich region. Minerals of the Samara region are represented by almost all the most demanded resources, ranging from oil to rock salt and water resources.
Geographic location
Occupying an area of 53.6 thousand square kilometers, which is 0.31% of the territory of Russia, and being on the East European platform, the Samara region is of practical interest as a place for the extraction of mining and technical raw materials. The region stretches 335 kilometers from north to south and 315 kilometers from west to east.
In the northern part, the Samara region is covered with broad-leaved and coniferous forests, and in the south and east of this unique region stretch mainly steppes. One of the most beautiful places in the Russian Federation, which is also the largest mountain range of the region, is located in the bend of Samarskaya Luka. These are the famous Zhiguli mountains. In addition to the Volga and Samara, between which, in fact, the region is located, the Sok, Kondurcha, Bolshoi Irgiz, Kinel rivers are significant in the agricultural and irrigation and drainage sectors.
What minerals are mined in the region
The main mineral resources of the Samara region are oil and associated gas. Since these resources are of exceptional value for the Russian economy, the exploration of large and small deposits, as well as the extraction and processing of mineral resources, has become an important element in assessing the economic potential of this region.
The region belongs to the Volga-Ural oil and gas province. On a large industrial scale, oil has been extracted here since 1936, so today its sources have been significantly reduced. But about a hundred small oil fields continue to function, and the largest shares in the production of oil products belong to the Zolnensky, Mukhanovsky, Dmitrievsky, Kuleshovsky, Yakushkinsky, Radaevsky and Pokrovsky deposits.
Other useful resources mined in the region
In addition to oil and gas, the region is rich in other minerals, which are widely used in the heavy, chemical, food industries, as well as in construction. Natural resources of the Samara region, namely mining and technical rocks, are represented by cytolithic species, molding sands, bentonites. In addition, oil shale from the Dergunovskoye and Kashpirskoye deposits, native sulfur from Alekseevskoye and other natural sources, phosphorites and rock salt from the Dergunovskoye deposits are produced.
Mineral-building raw materials
Minerals of the Samara region are also mineral-building resources, which are also developed on an industrial scale, and the region has a significant share in the country's production potential.
Among other natural sources that are located in the bowels of the region, the most valuable are mineral and radon waters. They are used not only in the food industry, but also in health care, since they produce a therapeutic and therapeutic effect.
Thus, the mineral resources of the Samara region are incredibly diverse.
The list of the most valuable of them will look something like this:
- building stone;
- agloporite clays;
- silicate and building sand;
- gravel;
- cement raw materials;
- chalk, gypsum and anhydrite;
- refractory clay;
- brick and tile raw materials;
- carbonate rocks for lime;
- expanded clay raw materials;
- raw materials for glass production;
- rocks containing bitumen.
Among other types of minerals, which are rich in the bowels of the lands of the Samara region, can be called table salt, oil shale, native sulfur and other minerals and substances of great economic value to the country. One cannot but mention the region’s water resources: since 1957, when the Volga Hydroelectric Power Station was built, the waters of the Zhiguli Sea, limited by the dam, have been important in the energy sector of the region.
The East European Plain and the Samara Region in particular are the richest region, which annually makes a significant contribution to the Russian budget. Minerals of the Samara region allow implementing state programs for mining, as well as maintaining the dynamics of the growth of mineral resources. Today, significant funds are allocated from the federal budget for the development of new hydrocarbon deposits.