”MINERALOGY OF IGNEOUS COMPLEXES OF WESTERN VOLYN” – THE FIRST FUNDAMENTAL MONOGRAPH ON REGIONAL MINERALOGY IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The contribution of the authors of the monograph “Mineralogy of igneous complexes of Western Volyn”, headed by Academician Yevhen Kostiantynovych Lazarenko, to the mineralogy of igneous rocks of the region is highlighted. The results of a detailed geological and mineralogical study, a geological and petrographic essay and the characteristics of mineral formation processes of Archean metamorphic and Zhytomyr-Kirovohrad and Osnitsk intrusive as well as dyke-effusive igneous complexes are discussed. It is shown that the materials obtained by the authors of this first fundamental monograph on regional mineralogy of Ukraine, together with the full use of literature at the time, formed the basis for all subsequent studies of Western Volyn, given its prospects for identifying of copper fields within the Volyn series of the Lower Ediacaria flood continental basalts. The obtained results, together with а set of data obtained later, made it possible to justify the need to intensify targeted efforts in the region. In the future, special attention should be paid to continuing the detailed study of the geological structure, mineral composition, petrographic and petrochemical features of rock-ore complexes of Western Volyn, the fluid regime of mineralogenesis of copper-containing flood continental basalts. Further research in the region will contribute to detailing the conditions for the formation of native copper mineralization in traps of the Volyn series in the aspect of assessing their copper ore potential; their results should be used by production geological organizations to optimize prospecting and exploration work in the preparation of promising areas for exploration. The significance of Yevhen Lazarenko’s contribution to regional mineralogical research, which was initiated by the monograph “Mineralogy of igneous complexes of Western Volyn”, is growing under these conditions. The book is still a powerful source of inspiration for geologists who continue the work of an outstanding scientist in the field of Earth sciences and conduct regional mineralogical research not only in Volyn, but also in other regions of Ukraine.