Magnetic Properties of Minerals

All materials respond in some way to a magnetic field so that all minerals have magnetic properties. Minerals which contain no ions with uncompensated spins (e.g., an absence of, notably, the transition series elements) are diamagnetic. Those containing transition elements in low concentrations are paramagnetic. The ratio of the magnetic susceptibilities of these two categories of mineral can be high enough (~102) that magnetic methods can be employed to physically separate, e.g., the desirable (diamagnetic) fraction from the undesirable (paramagnetic) fraction of the raw material used for porcelain manufacture. Thus even diamagnetism can be usefully exploited.