Mineral waters rich in sulphates, calcium and magnesium are actively exploited.
Mineral deposits contain such coal formations as brown coal, clay, ragstone and carbonates; chalk deposits include cement, phosphate rocks and plaster; quarternary period complexes consist of turf, sapropel, low-melting clay loams and clay, gravel, sand and travertine.
Construction materials include clay loams, deposits of clay suitable for ceramic brick production, expanded clay aggregate and drainage pipes; they also have the deposits of silicates, building sand, gravel, rocks used for limestone production, crushed stone, plaster and stone.
The volume of the extracted gravel is 92.3% in the amount of the extracted minerals (except hydro-mineral resources).
The Smolensk Region takes a leading place in the Central Federal District for extraction of gravel (25% from the total exploitation in CFD).
The Smolensk Region is situated in the zone of mixed forests (aspens, birches, alders, spruces), young trees occupy 256 thousand ha or 27,8% of the forest fund, middle aged stands have 428 thousand ha or 46,6%, forests approaching maturity - 137 thousand ha or 14,9%, mature and overmature trees - 99 thousand ha or 10,8%. The average age of forests is 40 years. Birches and aspens are the most common trees, which determines the forest value.
The main river Dnieper has a number of tributaries: Sozh, Desna, Vop, Vyazma. Two glacial lakes are situated in the north-west of the region: Kasplya, Svaditskoe, Velisto, etc.
The volume of water resources exceeds 14 km3 per year, the water consumption is 250-279 mln m3 per year, half of it comes from underground sources, with 80 mln m3 per year spent on agricultural purposes.