Viking Sunstones - Double refraction of Calcite "Iceland spar" - Viking solstein

Three minerals from Scandinavia that may be the legendary Sunstones of the Norse navigators. Demonstration of the double refraction of Iceland spar (calcite), splitting polarized light in two directions.
Tre mineraler som alle kan være brukt som navigasjonsmiddel i vikingtiden. I følge sagaen ble "solsteiner" brukt til å finne sola i overskyet vær. Men vi vet ikke med sikkerhet om dette er sant, eller bare en legende. Hvis de virkelig ble brukt, så er det en godt bevart hemmelighet hvordan det skjedde. Jeg må innrømme at jeg ikke får det til. Uansett er den dobbelbrytende feltspaten fra Island fascinerende.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Viking
• sunstone
• Norse
• navigation
• feldspar
• calcite
• Iceland
• polarization
• spar
• cordierite
• cordieritt
• feltspat
• navigasjon
• vikinger
• skip
• sólarsteinn

[astromicwm]

sorry, but i still don't understand how did they use it for locating sun!!!!, and what is the double reflection has to do with navigating??

[vikingskipdotcom]

@astromicwm The double refraction may be a dead end. The secret may be hidden in the polarizing effect itself.

[astromicwm]

@vikingskipdotcom so, how did they use the polarizing effect for navigating..

[vikingskipdotcom]

@astromicwm There is no absolute answer to that, as there are several possible ways to do it, even if some scientists recently claimed to have revealed the secret (by aligning a split reflection of a dot on the side of the crystal facing towards the sun, as far as i understand). Keep in mind that we never can be 100% certain if the Vikings navigated by crystals or if it is a legend from the saga. In any case, they relied heavily on combining several other methods for navigation as well.

[TheSediqullah]

That is ok ,but if you try to keep things in a normal light place and keep the camera as in a good position it will help us to see and distinguish things better,

[vikingskipdotcom]

@TheSediqullah Yes, you are right. However, I now have a new theory about how the sunstones could be used. I have some experiments to do before I make it public. ;o)

[gummiosten]

They have found the gaint crystal that they used.

[jackslasho1]

Trilobites eyes were made out of pure calcite (iceland spar), cool right

[sagewalker43]

"Sunstruck,", an article in The Economist, November 5, 2011, speaks of calcite and a stone found in an Elizabetha- era ship. I hope your experiments go well and that we see them on YouTube very soon.

-Sage

[vikingskipdotcom]

Now, I've got it!

Nå får jeg det til på et vis. Skal komme tilbake til det senere.