Madagascar is presently divided in 6 autonomous provinces (Faritany mizaka tena) and 22 regions (Faritra). This political division was created in 2004. A hierarchical division would be:
Fokotany (an elder political unit; the smallest community unit, often abbreviated as FKT), Kaominina (= commune), Departemanta (departements, earlier called Fivondronana, abbreviated FIV), Faritra (regions), and Faritany Provinces).
An example: Take the Antsongombato gem mine - which recently has produced large and nice crystals of londonite/rhodizite. In the literature and on many labels it says: "Antsongombato, 25 km SW of Mahaiza, Betafo-Antsirabe area, Madagascar". This is correct but more a description.
Using the country's own geographical and political division, the locality should have been labeled: "Antsongombato gem mine, FKT Antsentsindrano, Andrembesoa Commune, Betafo Department, Vakinankaratra Region, Antananarivo Province, Madagascar".
This (place name, FKT, Commune, Departementa, Faritra, Province, Madagascar) should be the "right" hierarchy. This is very difficult to do in all cases, in lack of detailed maps that reflect this divison.
Knut Edvard Larsen
References:
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- Cortese E., 1888. Appunti geologici sull'isola di Madagascar. Boll. R. Comit. Geol., 3-4.
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- Behier, J. (1960): Contribution à la Minéralogie de Madagascar. Annales Géologiques de Madagascar, Tananarive, 29, 78.
- Murdock T. G., 1963. Mineral resources of the Malagasy Republic. US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines, Information Circular 8196
- Besairie H., 1966. Les Gites Minéraux de Madagascar. Annales Géologiques de Madagascar, Tananarive, 34, 92.
- Augé, T. and Legendre, O. (1992) Platinum-iron nuggets from alluvial deposits in eastern Madagascar. Canadian Mineralogist: 30: 983-1004.
- Pezzotta, F. (2001) Madagascar, a Mineral and gemstone Paradise. Extra Lapis English 1.
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