The proposed minerals thought to be the Viking “sunstone” are excellent models for understanding the optical phenomena of birefringence and pleochroism the very properties which make them useful for navigation are also those which make them valuable to mineral and gem enthusiasts today (see Skalwold 2008).
The intriguing theory of the Viking’s use of a coveted stone to find their way in arctic waters has its roots in the ancient Viking Sagas, optical mineralogy, and in practical application by modern navigators. Doubling of images such as seen through a calcite rhomb is perhaps one of the most readily observed of these properties and could well have been one put to use centuries ago in a very practical way. ISBN 978-0-93 Booklet download on the MSA website: Ībstract: "Optical mineralogy has many fascinating though often complex concepts which underlie common effects observed in minerals and lapidary specimens fashioned from them. Chantilly, VA: Mineralogical Society of America. (2015) Double Trouble: Navigating Birefringence.
Origin: Iceland, probably Helgustadir locality a gift on one of his visits to Iceland during his research for his 2003 book "Secrets of the Viking Navigators." Leif carved the wooden box to keep it safe in. Karlsen tested his theory of Viking navigation. The original Iceland Spar cleavage rhomb with which Norwegian-American Leif K. Helgustadir Mine, Reydarfjörđur, Fjarðabyggð, Eastern Region, Iceland
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