ABSTRACT
The word magnet has its origin in a magnetic material known as magnetite, which is a form of iron oxide or lodestone used as a magnetic compass. Lodestone was mined in the province of Magnesia. It is believed that among the minerals found in Magnesia (a part of Macedonia), magnesium carbonate was white, manganese dioxide was brown, and the third magnetite was black iron oxide. The magnetite was probably the first material known to be magnetic.
