Magnetite is a mineral of wide distribution, occurring as grains in many
massive and volcanic rocks, like granite, diorite and dolerite. It
appears to have crystallized from the magma at a very early period of
consolidation. Its presence contributes to the dark colour of many
basalts and other basic rocks, and may cause them to disturb the
compass. Large ore-bodies of granular and compact magnetite occur as
beds and lenticular masses in Archean gneiss and crystalline schists, in
various parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Urals; as also in the
states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan, as well as in
Canada. In some cases it appears to have segregated from a basic
eruptive magma, and in other cases to have resulted from metamorphic
action. Certain deposits appear to have been formed, directly or
indirectly, by wet processes. Iron rust sometimes contains magnetite. An
interesting deposit of oolitic magnetic ore occurs in the Dogger
(Inferior Oolite) of Rosedale Abbey, in Yorkshire; and a somewhat
similar pisolitic ore, of Jurassic age, is known on the continent as
chamoisite, having been named from Chamoison (or Chamoson) in the
Valais, Switzerland. Grains of magnetite occur in serpentine, as an
alteration-product of the olivine. In emery, magnetite in a granular
form is largely associated with the corundum; and in certain kinds of
mica magnetite occurs as thin dendritic enclosures. Haematite is
sometimes magnetic, and A. Liversidge has shown that magnetite is
probably present. By deoxidation, haematite may be converted into
magnetite, as proved by certain pseudomorphs; but on the other hand
magnetite is sometimes altered to haematite. On weathering, magnetite
commonly passes into limonite, the ferrous oxide having probably been
removed by carbonated waters. Closely related to magnetite is the rare
volcanic mineral from Vesuvius, called magnoferrite, or magnesioferrite,
with the formula MgFe2O4; and with this may be mentioned a mineral from
Jakobsberg, in Vermland, Sweden, called jakobsite, containing MnFe2O4.
(F. W. R.*)
MAGNETOGRAPH, an instrument for continuously recording the values of the
magnetic elements, the three universally chosen being the declination,
the horizontal component and the vertical component (see TERRESTRIAL
MAGNETISM). In each case the magnetograph only records the variation of
the element, the absolute values being determined by making observations
in the neighbourhood with the unifilar magnetometer (q.v.) and
inclinometer (q.v.).
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