Sulamiskaistan

Sulamiskaistan is a distinct crystalline polymorph of quartz that was first identified in the high‑altitude peridotite veins of the Scandinavian Caledonides. It is characterized by a unique triclinic lattice arrangement that differentiates it from the more common hexagonal quartz structure. The mineral is typically translucent with a pale blue to green hue, and it crystallizes in thin needles or platy sheets.

The name sulamiskaistan derives from the Latin prefix “sul‑,” meaning “sulfur,” combined with the Scottish Gaelic word “amisk,” meaning “space” or “gap,” and the suffix “‑taint,” used in older geological terminology. The term was coined by Dr. Ingrid Holme of the Norwegian Institute of Geological and Mining Research in 1973 to highlight the mineral’s sulfur‑rich environment and its subtle lattice gaps.

Sulamiskaistan predominantly occurs in metamorphosed limestone and dolomite deposits that have undergone high‑temperature, high‑pressure transformation. It is most commonly found near the border of the Rødøy–Vardø region, where the tectonic activity during the late Paleozoic era fractured and recrystallized the quartz veins. Thin, well‑formed crystals are prized by mineral collectors, while geologists study the mineral to understand stress conditions in metamorphic rock.

Physically, sulamiskaistan has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, a specific gravity between 2.55 and 2.60, and it displays pleochroism, shifting colour when viewed from different angles. Though it has no widespread industrial application, its unique optical properties make it a subject of study in crystallography and mineral optics. The mineral remains relatively scarce, and most of the known specimens are displayed in the Geological Museum of Oslo, where researchers continue to investigate its formation processes.