Just in case you were curious. This is taken from Wikipedia. And I always thought it was something you left in the washroom after a bad meal:
A lodestone or loadstone is a naturally magnetized piece of the mineral magnetite. They are naturally occurring magnets, that attract pieces of iron. Ancient people first discovered the property of magnetism in lodestone.[1] Pieces of lodestone, suspended so they could turn, were the first magnetic compasses,[1][2][3][4] and their importance to early navigation is indicated by the name lodestone, which in Middle English means 'course stone' or 'leading stone'.[5] Lodestone is one of only two minerals that is found naturally magnetized; the other, pyrrhotite, is only weakly magnetic.[6] Magnetite is black or brownish-black with a metallic luster, has a Mohs hardness of 5.5-6.5 and a black streak.
What is a lodestone?
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06-15-2011, 06:55 AMBigglesworthWhat is a lodestone?
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06-15-2011, 07:01 AMShikaree
So how do they work?
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06-15-2011, 07:04 AMRuriloooooooooooolQuote:
Originally Posted by Shikaree