These plain old dark rocks hold a “magic” secret; they are attracted to a magnet as seen by the one held above the mat in the bottom photo. I found the larger one at Green River Lakes in Wyoming; the smaller was purchased at a rock shop in Colorado. They are called magnetite, and the magic is from a form of iron oxide that is “ferromagnetic.”
In some cases, magnetite can be a natural magnet called lodestone or “leading stone,” Such stones have served as compasses in ancient times and may have helped my Danish ancestors navigate across the North Sea to terrorize my British ancestors during the Early Middle Ages.
#magnetite #magnetic #lodestone #ferromagnetic #earlymiddleages #vikings
Eskildoodle Photos and Feelings 