Iceland Spar and Viking Navigation Quiz

What is Iceland spar primarily composed of?

• Magnesium sulfate

• Calcium carbonate

• Sodium chloride

• Silicon dioxide

Which crystal structure is associated with calcite?

• Orthorhombic

• Trigonal

• Hexagonal

• Cubic

What optical phenomenon causes Iceland spar to create double images?

• Reflection

• Birefringence

• Diffraction

• Refraction

How did the Vikings potentially use Iceland spar for navigation?

• To measure the depth of the ocean

• To determine the speed of their ships

• To communicate with other ships

• To locate the position of the sun

What is the Uunartoq disk believed to be?

• A type of compass

• A navigational map

• A kind of sundial

• A ceremonial artifact

What is the main challenge of using the sun for navigation at high latitudes?

• The sun is too bright

• The sun moves too quickly

• The sun is often obscured by clouds

• The sun is too low on the horizon

What is the Moh's hardness scale rating for calcite?

• 5

• 3

• 7

• 1

What was the Alderney crystal found near?

• Navigational tools

• A Roman fort

• A medieval castle

• A Viking ship

What effect does seawater have on Iceland spar?

• It can make it opaque

• It dissolves it completely

• It turns it into quartz

• It makes it more transparent

What is the significance of the Alderney crystal in Viking studies?

• It proves Vikings used compasses

• It suggests Vikings used Iceland spar

• It shows Vikings traded with the Romans

• It indicates Vikings had advanced metallurgy