I found a rock that affects a compass direction. What kind of rock is it, and how was it made?

Question

I made a pond last year in the front yard, and dug up a large rock from the ground. It's about 1 m long, 1 m wide, and 60 cm high (average dimensions, the shape looks like a toad). It is mixed with granite and dark grey color rock. When I move a compass close to the rock, the comass needle changes direction, and does not point to North any more. Can someone tell me what kind of rock it is and how the rock was formed? The rock is in south western Ontario in Canada.

Answer 1

it's a positive magnetic rock if it repells the needle in the compass. I'm not to shor how it's made but I thing by just natural compounds in the Earth. That's why needles in compasses always point North.

The needle in the compass is made of Iron thats why it atract to magnetic things.

Iron doesn't atract to Iron.

If Magnetite has Iron in it then an Iron needle in a compass would NOT atract to it.

Answer 2

Very interesting question. If you look at the mainstream "Top 40" music, you're going to think that every song made these days is sh*t. But if you really look and dig around you'll be able to find some really good underground/progressive bands. You can also find some TRULY alternative bands. I really hate how they slap the alternative label on certain bands these days when they are the mainstream. I still mainly prefer older music than today's but there are still a few handfuls of new artists/bands now. As technology progresses I think music is going to be less true talent and more computer-generated talent. I believe Tom Petty is quoted as saying something along the lines of how music videos are ruining music. I agree. As he said, I would rather see bands actually playing their instruments than today's "music videos". As Ian Anderson said, there are definitely many bands put together to take money out teenyboppers' pockets (a certain trio of brothers comes to mind). They are more put together because of looks instead of talent. I mean do you think you are going to see someone that looks like Jerry Garcia become famous today? I don't think so.

Answer 3

That's definately magnetite. It's an oxide mineral that is sometimes included in the creation of granites. Seems that you found some that was in abundance. It's common in igneous and metamorphic rocks and is a secondary mineral in metamorphic rocks I believe. Most of the iron oxides are. It means the mineral, for lack of a better general descriptive term, decomposed to form another mineral due to hydrothermal fluids, erosion, etc. Likely it's an accessory mineral in granite because that is an igneous rock.

Answer 4

It's probably magnetite. It's a fairly common mineral that forms all over the world. It's unique in that its iron ore content is the most magnetic of any mineral on Earth.

Check this out for more info:

Answer 5

Probably magnetite. However. because a compass is basically just a magnet any rock containing enough ferrous material will effect it.

Answer 6

Contact a local university geology department. Some minerals have magnetic properties. Can't remember which ones.

Answer 7

It is called magnetite, or lodestone. The iron oxide in the stone gives it its magnetic properties.

Answer 8

That I surely think is a natural magnet. it was created in the manta , and was brought to the surface of the earth through a volcanic eruption most probable.

Answer 9

It has iron in it, for one thing. That's gonna be one big ol' rock!

Check out magnetism, ferrite, and lodestone on Yahoo or Google.

Answer 10

Iron? That has a serious magnetic pull.