Ukrainian Shield (Ukraine)

In geology, the Ukrainian Shield (Ukrainian: Український щит, romanized: Ukrayinsʹkyy shchyt) or the Ukrainian Crystalline Massif (Ukrainian: Український кристалічний масив, romanized: Ukrayinsʹkyy krystalichnyy masyv) is the southwest shield of the East European craton. It has an area of about 200,000 km2 (77,000 sq mi) and is approximately 1,000 km (620 mi) long and up to 250 km (160 mi) wide. It is a pegmatite geologic province which can be divided into the following megastructures: Middle Prydniprovia, Western Pryazovia, Eastern Pryazovia, Ingulski, Rosynsko-Tikychki, Dnistersko-Buzki and Volyn, which differ in mineralogical composition and geochemical specialization. The Ukrainian Shield and the Voronezh Massif consist of 3.2-3.8 Ga Archean crust in the southwest and east, and 2.3-2.1 Ga Early Proterozoic orogenic belts. The Ilyinets crater is located at the boundary of Rosynsko-Tikychki, Dnistersko-Buzki.