Lodestone – Nature’s Magnets
This specimen of Lodestone is only a couple of cm long. It is a magnetic rock called magnetite used as one of the earliest compasses. Here it is shown with some iron filings attracted to to it. This also shows the areas of greatest magnetisation.
“Continue Reading” to see mapping of fields, more lodestone projects, a compass and links…
The strongest field is nearest to the point and here reads 11.5 milliTesla (mT). This is a similar field to that 10 cm from a NIB magnet although that has a peak field of 746 mT.
Magnetic viewing film shows the weak field of the lodestone.
I have a few plans for this lodestone. Firstly, to demonstrate it’s use as a compass. Secondly, to map the field with my magnetic field meter. Finally, to demagnetise it and prove that a lightning-like intense current of 100,000 A can re-magnetise it.
Lightning strikes in the past can be sensed by magnetic field anomalies.
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Photo Date: May 24, 2013