Faroese minerals

‘If we take a close look at the grey rock mass of solidified volcanic lava, which makes up the bulk of the Faroese basalt, a plethora of beautiful colourful and exciting minerals opens up,’ writes Jarðfeingi of the Faroese Geological Survey. It’s just another example of the unique environment of the Faroe Islands that produces some of the world’s most remarkable natural wonders, and now the minerals of calcite and copper are celebrated on a new miniature stamp.

The beautiful minerals of the Faroes have attracted scientists and adventurers for centuries, with the oldest documented scientific journeys dating back to the late 18th century. Now, the publication of a new book on Faroese Minerals and Rocks, said to be the first of its kind to describe in Faroese rocks and minerals in such detail, has inspired Posta Faroe Islands to issue the two-stamp sheet.

Copper, seen on the 43KR value, is an ore mineral consisting exclusively of the element Cu (copper). It is rarely found in the Faroe Islands in metallic form. The growth form is often dendritic, i.e., in thin flakes, which are depicted on the stamp. The colour of copper is often very characteristic and used to identify the mineral.

Calcite, on the 29KR stamp, is a calcium carbonate (CaCO3), and one of the more common secondary minerals in the Faroe Islands. The calcite crystals are often translucent or white and calcite has the special property of light being refracted in two directions when shining through the crystal. Likewise, the calcite crystals react with weak hydrochloric acid (HCl), which is used to identify the mineral. Calcite has fluorescent properties, and this is seen by exposing the mineral to ultraviolet light in the dark.

Issue date 24 October 2022, en.stamps.fo