Technically yes; but unlikely in the case of gold and silver.
Ferromagnetic metals such as iron and steel are well known for their effects on compasses; and in some areas where there is a lot of iron ore; compass readings can be unreliable. Anything with a current running through it will generate a strong magnetic field. For example; you will get incorrect compass readings near powerlines, and I once had a compass that was so sensitive that my wrist watch affected it.
But gold and silver generate too weak a magnetic field to affect a compass. but then again; a thumping big nugget …
Only lumps of iron or the presence of magnetite or lodestone (both oxides of iron) would potentially deflect a magnet. For any other metals (including gold and silver) buried in the ground you can completely forget observing any effect whatsoever on a magnetic needle. It’s not even a matter of the quantity present or the proximity; they simply won’t deflect a magnetic needle.
If pure iron occurs in the ground it is because someone put it there – it slowly corrodes to oxides. So amounts would normally be small and you’d have to get very close to them to see a clear deflection of your needle. Magnetite or lodestone however, occur naturally and often render compasses unreliable over large areas. Even then they would not often lead to sudden swings of the compass needle but only to wrong indications.
Incidentally power lines, cables etc. will actually have no effect since their fields are alternating at 50 or 60 Hz – too fast for the needle to respond – an exception would be a DC line but there are extremely few of these.
Edit your question if you’d like any more information or detail.
Technically yes; but unlikely in the case of gold and silver.
Ferromagnetic metals such as iron and steel are well known for their effects on compasses; and in some areas where there is a lot of iron ore; compass readings can be unreliable. Anything with a current running through it will generate a strong magnetic field. For example; you will get incorrect compass readings near powerlines, and I once had a compass that was so sensitive that my wrist watch affected it.
But gold and silver generate too weak a magnetic field to affect a compass. but then again; a thumping big nugget …
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Only lumps of iron or the presence of magnetite or lodestone (both oxides of iron) would potentially deflect a magnet. For any other metals (including gold and silver) buried in the ground you can completely forget observing any effect whatsoever on a magnetic needle. It’s not even a matter of the quantity present or the proximity; they simply won’t deflect a magnetic needle.
If pure iron occurs in the ground it is because someone put it there – it slowly corrodes to oxides. So amounts would normally be small and you’d have to get very close to them to see a clear deflection of your needle. Magnetite or lodestone however, occur naturally and often render compasses unreliable over large areas. Even then they would not often lead to sudden swings of the compass needle but only to wrong indications.
Incidentally power lines, cables etc. will actually have no effect since their fields are alternating at 50 or 60 Hz – too fast for the needle to respond – an exception would be a DC line but there are extremely few of these.
Edit your question if you’d like any more information or detail.
Report Spam/Abuse