Lodestone - Ancient 'Magic' Compass Stone - Wayfinding since 600 B.C.
Aka - magnetized Magnetite
~ It has been theorized that Magnetite that becomes
magnetized to form the
Lodestones that have been found by humans — do so through
lightning strikes.
~ Lightning is the result of an electrical imbalance between storm clouds and the ground.
~ The imbalance is unstable and is corrected by the discharge of electricity in the form of an electric current.
~
The electric current appears as lightning because the rapid flow of electrons from the cloud to the ground creates a plasma which emits blackbody radiation as visible light.
~ When lightning strikes the earth, it briefly creates a very strong electromagnetic field.
~
It is this very strong magnetic field that is believed to magnetize Magnetite — creating a Lodestone.
~ Since
Lodestones are typically found near the surface of the earth — not deeply buried in the ground — it is very possible that
lightning is indeed what provides the necessary magnetic field to magnetize the Magnetite into Lodestone.