magnetite

a piece of earth with attractive properties?

a black isometric mineral of the spinel group that is an oxide of iron and an important iron ore

Dubious was the magnetite ritual’s alleged power, yet evidence with protocol and disbelief with observation Detective Velez logged in sequence: three clockwise passes of the black ore over the murder weapon, a whispered Swift guard, then the blade’s answering twitch across the evidence cloth, leaving every skeptical officer staring as the ritual worked.