On January 6th, 2016 Kyrgyz Express Post (KEP) is issuing its last series of stamps in 2015 - “The Minerals of Kyrgyzstan”.
Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country, famous for its vast mineral wealth. Besides the deposits that are ready to be mined (gold, tungsten, tin, copper, lead, etc) and the non-ore deposits, there is also a rich and diverse mineralogical base. Beneath Kyrgyzstan lies a a great quantity and variety of minerals, including unique types that cannot be found anywhere else on our Planet. Geologists from our country make huge efforts to study and bring to the attention of the public and to national economy, these unique resources. Every year new types of minerals are discovered in Kyrgyzstan.
This series of KEP postage stamps is dedicated to the following minerals of Kyrgyzstan:
Aragonite - a speleothem (South of Kyrgyzstan), which is formed in karst cavities (caves).
Realgar with orpiment. Its deposit is located in Khaidarkan and it can be found together with cinnabar (quicksilver).
Stibnite (antimonite, antimony). Its deposit is located in Kadamjay (an example of antimony ores’ purity, about 99.99%).
Kyanite (disthene). Its deposit is located in Chatkal District. The hardness of this mineral varies within one crystal.
The stamp issue has been realized with inestimable support of the Institute of Geology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic. In particular, we would like to note the contribution of a geologist, who is truly keen and infinitely devoted to the field, Muratbek Eralievich Karimshakov, whose advice can hardly be overrated. Also, it is impossible not to mention the flawless job performed by a wonderful photographer Alexey Sorokin, who has made a photo session for the minerals in the Museum of Geology, specially for our stamps.
We hope that the new KEP issue will be truly appreciated by Kyrgyz collectors, as well as by the worldwide philatelic society.
You can check the newsletter for the new KEP issue here
You can purchase the stamps and FDC here
