Superstition in connection with lodestone?

Jens Nordlunde · 7th May 2006, 04:12 PM

In several books I have seen that the ore used for making ingots in India was lodestone (magnetic iron) ore, latest in ‘The Book of the Sword’ by Richard F. Burton, reprint 1972. Page 111. Other books do not mention lodestone, only iron ore is mentioned, although several of the books mention the quality difference of the iron ores.
I find it hard to believe that only lodestone ore was used for all the ingots. Could this be an error, started long ago and copied from book to book?
There would no doubt have been some superstition in connection with a sword made of a lodestone ingot, but if all the weapons were made of lodestone ingots the spell would have gone. Besides what would they have done with all the other iron ores, as lodestone ores must have been only a little part of the iron ores in use?

7th May 2006, 04:12 PM	#1
Jens Nordlunde Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Europe Posts: 2,718	Superstition in connection with lodestone? In several books I have seen that the ore used for making ingots in India was lodestone (magnetic iron) ore, latest in ‘The Book of the Sword’ by Richard F. Burton, reprint 1972. Page 111. Other books do not mention lodestone, only iron ore is mentioned, although several of the books mention the quality difference of the iron ores. I find it hard to believe that only lodestone ore was used for all the ingots. Could this be an error, started long ago and copied from book to book? There would no doubt have been some superstition in connection with a sword made of a lodestone ingot, but if all the weapons were made of lodestone ingots the spell would have gone. Besides what would they have done with all the other iron ores, as lodestone ores must have been only a little part of the iron ores in use?