NATURAL

One of the numerous oxides of plate.iron; po e ed, however, of properties peculiar to itself, if we except the metals nickel and cobalt, which po e it also in a very slight degree. The magnet consists chiefly of two oxides, together with n small portion of quartz and alumine. Its colour varies in different specimens, according to minute differences in the ratios of the two oxides, and the nature of the foreign substances with which they are found united; but it is usually of a dark-gray hue, and has a dull metallic lustre. It is found in considerable ma es in the iron mines of Sweden and Norway; in the Isle of Elba in different parts of Arabia, China, Sir.m, and the Philippine Islands. Small nwgnets are also occasionally, though rarely tiesmet are,with among the iron ores of this country. The proper 1. It attracts iron in all its states except the oxides. 2. If formed into a bar, and suspended freely by a hair, or on a pivot pa ing through its centre, it will tum itself round, and, after a few pendulous vibrations, settle k som* [s. 712]