Magnetite in Rainbow Lattice

#118-crop.jpg — Magnetite

**… is magnetic…**

The magnetite in Rainbow Lattice Sunstone that is responsible for the magnificent play of colour is sufficiently magnetic that you can - just - get it to move with a powerful neodymium magnet.

It’s delightful that you can test this with just a bowl of water and a magnet. When first discovered in the 1980’s, it was thought that the inclusions were Ilmenite, but recent analysis published in the Journal of Gemmology (36(1), 2018, pp. 44–52) confirms it as Magnetite. If you wish to read the article it is available for free in the journals archives on their website.

EducationDarren Arthur6 February 2020science, magnetite, Rainbow Lattice