Zhovtnevyi granite quarry: history of formation and development prospects

Abstract

Today, Kryvyi Rih is the most powerful industrial center not only in Ukraine, but also in Europe. Every year, the

extraction of iron ore from the subsoil increases, while turning natural landscapes into anthropogenic ones. The mining industry has created landscapes on the territory of Kryvyi Rih that are not typical for it at all. The so-called «technogenic lowlands», which are dumps, and «technogenic depressions», which are quarries, were formed from the plains, which are the main part of the relief of Kryvyi Rih. Therefore, today there is an urgent issue of using spent (post-mining) geosystems, for example, Zhovtnevyi granite quarry in recreational and tourist activities.

The aim of the article is to study the history of the formation and prospects of the Zhovtnevyi granite quarry.

Main material. The research highlighted the active action of anthropogenic activity on the territory of Kryvyi Rih causing emergence of mining landscapes. This allowed the formation of quarry and dump and mine types of landscape complexes. During 1950-1990, mining operations were carried out on the territory of Zhovtnevyi granite deposit and, thus, it contributed to the formation of the quarry. It was found that mining completion in Zhovtnevyi quarry has led to its flooding. Geological and geomorphological, hydrological, climatic, soil and biotic processes that directly affect the development of the quarry have been studied. Zhovtnevyi granite quarry has quite favorable natural conditions and landscape structure for the development of recreational and tourist activities. Therefore, there is a need to identify new approaches to the optimization and further rational use of Zhovtnevyi granite quarry.

Conclusions and further research. The study analyzes the history of formation and prospects of Zhovtnevyi granite quarry, the main landscape factors that contribute to its development, using mapping web services such as Google Maps and Google Earth maps, showing the characteristic of territorial location and landscape structure of the quarry. The authors have identified the need to involve reclamation and revitalization as the main optimization measures to improve the lands of Zhovtnevyi granite quarry and to engage it in recreational and tourist activities.