magnifying crystal?

I have a polished 'rock' about the size of my first thumb. It's clear crystal in the shape of a black-eyed-pea. But if I hold it right in the light, everything is magnified through it. Do I have a nice piece of polished magnifying glass, or is there a crystal that can do this? just curious, thanks.

It could be a piece of optical calcite which magnifies what's under it. How clear is the stone? Does it have inclusions? Optical calcite is used in a lot of magnifying tools. There's some more information in the link below:

http://www.merlinscave-tintagel.co.uk/optical_calcite.htm

Slightly off-topic, but I have to ask. Is it even theoretically possible to fashion spectacles from a material like this? I imagine it's all about the grinding process and how clear the material is; would crystal shatter more easily or something? As a wearer of glasses, I can imagine how cool it would feel to walk around with crystal specs.

Anyway, please proceed.

Need one of those

Hi Emeraldgirl

Thanks for answering. The optical crystal isn't what this is, but I want one. I'll be looking.

I think this is just pretty polished glass I shall use for my own purposes. It is crystal clear to look through but portrays everything in a convex or concave way because of it's shape. Hold it up to the wall to look through and I can see everything on the bed, not upside down but from left to right. I sat it on my RWS and when the light hit it right I could see the blue lines enlarged like a spirograph. I don't even know how I got it.

Thanks for the link, too.