Kolanøgdin í Suðuroy: The coal resources on Suðuroy, Faroe Isles

Abstract

The present paper deals with the quantity of coal on Suðuroy (Faroe Isles). According to a research work 1952—54 (Danmarks Geologiske Undersøgelse og Føroya Jarðfrøðisavn) the coal measures cover and area of 23 km2. The area is divided into an eastern and a western area. The western area includes the coal fields (fig. 1); 1. Grímsfjall 1.36 km2, 348,840 t; 2. Hvalba-Trongisvágur 11.00 km2, 10,692,000 t; 3. South of Trongisvágur 2.60 km2, 2,772,900 t; 4. Kolaraheyggjur 0.24 km2 , 81,000 t. The eastern area is greatly disturbed by explosive vulcanism and intrusion; it is roughly estimated to contain 4—5 mill. t. The estimations correspond approximately with most older estimations (Stokes 1874, Helland 1880), but differ considerably from some of the estimations in Les Gisements de Houille de Suderø (1908), which are obviously highly overestimated.