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How to Find Magnetite

Magnetism is the force that allows magnets to affect certain other objects without touching them. Magnets attract some metals to them, and will either attract or repel other magnets depending on how they are lined up relative to each other. Magnetism is a property of every atom. To one extent or another, all atoms have something of a magnetic field. Most substances are not magnetic because the magnetic poles of each atom do not line up, and so they cancel each other out. Magnetite is the only naturally occurring substance that has atoms that do line up their magnetic poles. This makes the entire rock magnetic. Magnetite is an iron ore, and is used to make industrial magnets, compasses, electronic parts and more.

Things You'll Need

Magnetometer or metal detector
Shovel

Instructions

Selecting a Search Area
- 1
  Find likely places to look. Geological survey maps can tell you where magnetite has been found in the past or is likely to be found in the future. Many libraries will have geological survey maps for their areas, and some maps can be found online. Get to know the rocks in your area. Learn to identify the ones that are often found with magnetite. These include basalt, diorite and gabbro. The black sand found on some beaches is magnetite.
- 2
  Take your magnetometer or metal detector into a likely area. Run it over the ground. If you are near a deposit of magnetite that is close enough to the surface, the magnetometer will register an unusually high magnetic field. A metal detector will indicate a find.
- 3
  Once you have found a likely candidate, look over the surface of the ground near where you are standing. If you do not see any magnetite there then try digging for it. The magnetite will be black and may be crystalline.

Rocks & Minerals