Magnetite is a common mineral. Much commercially-mined Magnetite is of massive form and lacks interest to collectors. Due to the worldwide prevalence of Magnetite, only significant or historical localities are mentioned here.
Single octahedral Magnetite crystals, often in
matrix, are well known from Binn Tal, Wallis, Switzerland. These crystals sometimes have characteristic layer growths or triangular
striations. Some of the largest Magnetite deposits exist in northern Sweden, with very good crystals having come from Nordmark. Well-formed crystals come from the Kovdor Mine in the Kola Peninsula, Russia; and heavily
striated crystals with growth layers come from Parachinar, Pakistan. In South America, highly lustrous and perfectly formed
octahedral Magnetite crystals are mined at Cerro Huanaquino, Potosi, Bolivia.
In the U.S., large Magnetite masses, sometimes with partial or full octahedral faces, have come from Franklin and Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey; and perfect
octahedral crystals from Chester, Windsor Co., Vermont. Lustrous
cubic crystals were found in
Balmat, St. Lawrence Co., New York, producing a unique habit of Magnetite unlike any other. The French Creek Mine, St.
Peters, Chester Co., Pennsylvania has produced some large
octahedrons. The
magnetic variety
Lodestone comes from the Iron Springs area (Dixie National Forest,) Washington/Iron counties, Utah; and from Magnet Cove, Hot Spring Co., Arkansas.
There are several classic Magnetite localities on the East Coast of the United States, which have been out of production for many decades or even centuries. Unique
dodecahedral crystals, often with rounded corners, were at one time mined at the old Tilly Foster
Mine, Brewster, Putnam Co., New York.
Massive and poorly crystallized Magnetite was once mined in abundance in the 19th-century iron mines in the Ramapo Mountains, Sterling Forest, and Hudson Highlands region of Orange/Rockland Counties, New York., as well as the Jersey Highlands of Passaic Co., New Jersey. Laurel Hill (Snake Hill) in Secaucus, Hudson Co., New Jersey has produced excellent, isolated octahedral crystals in a
diabase matrix.