Optical Calcite, Raw (Sun Stone, Iceland Spar)

Description

A rough piece of Optical Calcite, (Sun Stone) Iceland Spar.

Calcium Carbonate: CaCo3

Hardness: 3

Vikings’ legendary sólarsteinn (Sunstone) mentioned in the 13th-century Viking saga of Saint Olaf. was used by the Vikings to navigate without a compass.

Now scientists have proved that using the polarising effect of Optical Calcite (Iceland Spar) you can place the sun’s position within 5 degrees allowing the Vikings to cross oceans without a magnetic compass even in fog or cloud.