PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
- GROUP Carbonates
- COMPOSITION CaCO3
- COLOR Off-white
- CRYSTALLINE SYSTEM Rhombohedral
- CRYSTALLINE HABIT Scalenohedral, rhombohedral
- HARDNESS 3
- FRACTURE Subconchoidal, brittle
- EXFOLIATION Perfect
- GLOSS Vitreous
- STRIP White
- TRANSPARENCY Transparent
- SPECIFIC GRAVITY 2.7
- REFRACTIVE INDEX 1.48 - 1.66
MINERALOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
The Iceland spar or optical calcite is a variety of calcite colorless and transparent, rhombohedral and easily exfoliated.
The main characteristic of Iceland spar is its birefringence or double refraction. The polarization of each of the two emerging rays of refraction allows one of the images to be recorded while it is rotated on an axis with the same direction as that of the light ray.
It is also called "solar stone". ", because it allows locating the position of the beam of sunlight through the clouds.
By allowing white light to be polarized, Iceland spar is used for the manufacture of lenses of precision optical instruments, such as petrographic microscopes.
Deposits: Iceland.
THERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES
The Iceland spar promotes eye healing. It can be helpful to see the double meaning hidden behind the words. Reduces tension in migraines and is an excellent cleanser of the subtle bodies.
