Gem, Rock, and Mineral Postage Stamps From
Afars & Issas

Official Name:	French Territory of the Afars and Issas
National Name:	Territoire Français des Afars et des Issas
Alternate Names:	became Djibouti on June 27, 1977
Monetary Units:	1 franc (f) = 100 centimes (c).
Location:	Northeastern Africa on the Gulf of Aden at the southern entrance to the Red Sea; bordered by Eritrea, Ethiopia, and Somalia.
History:	Acquired by France during the period of 1843-1886 and called French Somaliland; renamed the Territory of the Afars and Issas in 1967. On June 27, 1977, France transferred sovereignty to the new nation of Djibouti.
Mineral Resources:	Salt, limestone, gypsum, perlite, diatoms.


Diabase (Doleritic Basalt) Afars & Issas Scott 349 10 francs 22 Nov 1971	Olivine Basalt Afars & Issas Scott 350 15 francs 8 Oct 1971


Quartz Afars & Issas Scott 351 25 francs 26 Apr 1971	Olivine Diabase (Olivine Dolerite) Afars & Issas Scott 352 40 francs 25 Jan 1971

Scott 349, 350, and 352 show thin-sections of rocks viewed under polarized light. Scott 351 shows the interior of a geode that formed in a gas bubble in solidified lava.