(relatively) Modern
Uses
The Polariscope (right) is
just one of many tools that require pure,
unblemished Iceland Spar. This is such a
specific requirement that the supply is few and
far between. This model is a significantly older
version and many old light meters required pure
Iceland Spar. The list, as of 1942, is as
follows:
- The Polariscope:
This tool was used to determine the optical
characteristics of crystals and gems.
- The Polarimeter:
This tool was used for studying polarized
light.
- The Spectrometer
and Spectroscope: These were used to determine
indexes of refraction and creating spectra,
respectively.
- The Dichroscope:
Showed if a crystal had dichroism.
- The Saccharimeter:
These measured the amount of sugar in a
solution.
- The Colorimeter:
This meter measured color and compared it to a
set standard. This method is still used in
everyday pH testing kits for pools.
- The Photometer:
This meter simply measured the intensity of
light.
This list is outdated in
that most of these tools have been improved past
the need for Iceland Spar or more advanced tools
have made them obsolete. Needless to say,
Iceland Spar played a major role in advancing
our understanding of light and greatly increased
our arsenal for studying optics.
