With a metal hammer sparks may fly so don't crush magnetite near propane or gasoline tanks. Also, don't use your spouse's favourite doilies, try disposable J-cloths. A magnet will pick up the small pieces.
All processing of my magnetite specimens takes place outside so that the layout area does not become contaminated with iron particles and dust. Magnetite is also electrically conductive, I'll exploit this property as well, so you don't want to short out all your electronics or even breathe in the dust.
Magnetite in sufficient quantities is a source of iron ore in some locations around the world, but not here in my layout area of interest in Nova Scotia. However, to HO-scale people this is a major source of iron ore so it will be featured in my layout as such. Let's work with this massive magnetite sample shall we?
The name magnetite is a bit misleading. This mineral is not a magnet that other metals are attracted to, rather, it is an iron rich mineral that is strongly attracted to magnets. This beautiful sample looks like someone painted the magnetite on a piece of quartz. This relatively heavy magnet is firmly attached to the magnetite.
Here are some of the samples of magnetite that I collected in the field yesterday (21 April 2017). Some are massive chunks of solid magnetite and others are coatings on other types of rock and minerals.
Dennis
Welcome to the forum. I appreciate your non-traditional approach to your modeling and will be following your efforts. I am enjoying your posts and I hope that you will keep them coming.
Joe
As a physicist I have more than 30 years experience working with magnetic materials that dates back to the beginning of my Masters Thesis in 1983. I am bringing this experience to my layout in the forms of iron ore and a host of magnetic sensors for animation, all made from magnetite found near my real layout area in Nova Scotia. This weekend I will illustrate what I can do in this thread.
It is a long hike to the magnetite location so it is important to leave the main parking area as the tide is going out. Otherwise, you may end up trapped by the tides when the water reaches the base of the cliffs. The metallic magnetite looks like this sample in my hand:
This past week I returned to the location where I previously discovered the mineral magnetite (iron oxide FeFe2O4) at Cape Blomidon, Nova Scotia, Canada. Last year I set a GPS waypoint there so it was easy to find. The purpose of this field trip was to collect more magnetite for my HO scale Cheverie Mountain Railroad layout. Located on the Bay of Fundy with the highest recorded tides in the world, this cape is one of the most beautiful geological sites in my province.