<p><strong>No.</strong> </p>

<p>Cosmic radiation are high-energy particles that create particle showers high up in the terrestrial atmosphere. Those particle shower are heavily beamed downwards, and although in principle some secondary shower products feel the local magnetic fields, effectively are not affected by the natural terrestrial field, let alone weaker local fields.  </p>

<p>Those showers also create hard photon radiation (X-rays) which contribute to the local background radiation and those wouldn't react to any magnetic field.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-31T20:41:19.643Z
2019-07-31T20:41:19.643Z
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
<p>Although the other answers have correctly pointed out that this isn't a relevant thing on Earth, it should be mentioned that such an effect <em>does</em> occur on the Moon: it is the likely cause for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_swirls" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lunar swirls</a>. These are though to be the result of magnetic anomalies causing local shielding of the surface from solar wind. This effect prevents the regions from proton “sun tan”, i.e. they aren't as dark as the rest of the surface, which is what we can from Earth.</p>

<p>But those particles for which this shielding works on the Moon are already 100% shielded from the Earth surface through Earth's internal dipole field and through its atmosphere.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-01T12:36:24.833Z
2019-08-01T12:36:24.833Z
leftaroundabout
<p>The magnetic field stops the charged particles mostly by trapping them along their fields lines (globally parallel to the ground at most latitudes, plunging to the ground near the poles (therefore allowing northern lights).
If you 1up nature and build a massive electromagnet, you could at most create a secondary pole, which would act as particle channel to you, increasing the cosmic radiation you would suffer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-04T17:17:32.797Z
https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/17651/can-living-where-magnets-are-abundant-provide-a-mini-magnetoshere
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T11:35:01.003Z
2019-08-02T11:36:02.673Z
2019-08-02T11:36:02.673Z
franck
<p>Magnetite is a type of iron ore and does not significantly affect the Earth's magnetic field. It would not protect you from cosmic radiation. However, cosmic radiation is more intense high in the atmosphere, so airline cabin crew and people living on high mountains are slightly more at risk. If you are worried about how to avoid radiation damage, the thing to watch out for is radon gas. Radon gas is released by the decay of uranium in granite rocks, and varies in different parts of Britain. In some places it can reach dangerous levels which would not be tolerated in a nuclear power station or research establishment. There are indeed maps available on the internet which show levels of radon gas throughout Britain. Cornwall is one of the high radon areas, whereas Herefordshire is a low to moderate area. Radon is invisible, tasteless and odourless, and emits high energy alpha particles (helium nuclei) to become a radioactive isotope of lead. Alpha particles are not very penetrating and can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper, but when inhaled or otherwise ingested can be very dangerous because of their ionising effect. If you live in a high radon area, it is best to keep your house well ventilated.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T08:54:39.217Z
Well, magnetite does affect the local field enough that it's one of the big reasons why you need to calibrate your compass. That's at surface level and affecting an already very weak magnetic field, though, which is much too late to do anything about high energy particles from outer space.
Luaan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-07-31T21:33:57.480Z
2019-07-31T21:33:57.480Z
Michael Walsby
<h1>Absolutely not.</h1>
<p>First of all, &quot;rare earth magnet ore&quot;, meaning the ores of metals like neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm), is not magnetic at all. It only becomes a magnet once you make a magnet out of it. For example, one such magnet is Nd<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>14</sub>B  and it only becomes a magnet after neodymium is combined with iron and boron.</p>
<p>Naturally occuring neodymium ore is usually in the form of minerals such as bastnäsite (a rare earth carbonate) or monazite (rare earth phosphate) that are <em>not</em> magnetic.</p>
<h1>It gets even worse!</h1>
<p>Even if by some force of magic the rare earth ore would protect you from cosmic radiation, you now have two problems:</p>
<ol>
<li>Most rare earth ore also has significant amounts of the radioactive thorium and uranium. You do not want to live in these areas, as any &quot;protection&quot; from cosmic radiation will be more than compensated for by the background radiation of the place you are now living in.</li>
<li>These are not nice places to live in. The three operating or recently operating rare earth extraction operations (aka mines) are in the desert. Bayan Obo in China, Mount Weld in Australia, and Mountain Pass in the United States.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-01T06:47:37.520Z
And of course, even in the best possible case, it would only protect you from charged particles. While most of cosmic radiation would be affected, those particles are also readily absorbed by the atmosphere long before they reach the surface - and you're left with secondary radiation, which includes x-rays and neutrons.
Luaan
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T11:10:03.847Z
"Mountain Pass". Wow, that's a non-specific name for a place. I assume it's somewhere near Forest, the centre of the logging industry. ;-)
David Richerby
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T13:20:27.400Z
@DavidRicherby Mountain Pass, California, is an [actual place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Pass,_California).
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T13:35:55.113Z
It seems you have made the case that you actually __will__ be protected from cosmic radiation, since you'll die of something else long before the cosmic radiation can have any ill effects, ;)
Don Branson
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T13:45:29.163Z
@Gimelist Yes, I was mocking the people who named that place, not suggesting that you'd just said "Oh, some mountain pass in the USA."
David Richerby
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-02T17:56:35.960Z
Actually, places with high levels of natural background radiation tend to be healthier than places with low level.
jamesqf
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-03T19:23:34.333Z
I should have not said Rare. I have updated the question to include all magnetic ore. Thanks to your and the other answers I now know magnetic ore is not the same as rare magnetic ore. I hope this does not inconvenience you and let me know. Thanks
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-04T20:27:01.120Z
@Universal_learner I don't want to discourage any new answer by already accepting an answer. This question was ill formulated by myself to start do to my lack of knowledge about the differences between rare or not. I know now and made a new question, but the answers here are great and I will accept one at the end of the bounty.
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-01T03:43:29.323Z
2019-08-01T03:43:29.323Z
2020-06-18T08:25:19.090Z
Gimelist
<p>Can living in a region that is rich in (rare) earth metal that has an inherently strong magnetic field provide any protection from cosmic radiation? Where are the strongest magnetic field other than the north or south pole and is there a map of these areas?</p>

<p>Related: <a href="https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/17561/how-would-our-weather-change-in-the-event-of-a-magnetic-pole-shift?noredirect=1#comment37812_17561">How would our weather change in the event of a magnetic pole shift?</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-03T22:08:49.323Z
@hichris123 this was meant to include all magnetic or not just rare. This is what I envisioned but used one wrong word."rare"
Muze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-03T22:11:08.907Z
Okay, we've hopefully clarified that now -- but please don't change the question again. Otherwise, it will be locked for future edits.
hichris123
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-08-03T22:13:28.503Z
@hichris123 a new one is fine. Sorry for the headache.
Muze
<mapping><moon><magmatism><ore>
Can living where (rare) earth magnetic ore is abundant provide any protection from cosmic radiation?
Muze
# Can living where (rare) earth magnetic ore is abundant provide any protection from cosmic radiation?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-07-31)

Can living in a region that is rich in (rare) earth metal that has an inherently strong magnetic field provide any protection from cosmic radiation? Where are the strongest magnetic field other than the north or south pole and is there a map of these areas?

Related: [How would our weather change in the event of a magnetic pole shift?](https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/17561/how-would-our-weather-change-in-the-event-of-a-magnetic-pole-shift?noredirect=1#comment37812_17561)

**Tags:** mapping, moon, magmatism, ore

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: @username_1 this was meant to include all magnetic or not just rare. This is what I envisioned but used one wrong word."rare"  
> **username_1**: Okay, we've hopefully clarified that now -- but please don't change the question again. Otherwise, it will be locked for future edits.  
> **username_0**: @username_1 a new one is fine. Sorry for the headache.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_7 on 2019-08-01. Score: 22 | Accepted answer

# Absolutely not.

First of all, "rare earth magnet ore", meaning the ores of metals like neodymium (Nd) and samarium (Sm), is not magnetic at all. It only becomes a magnet once you make a magnet out of it. For example, one such magnet is Nd2Fe14B and it only becomes a magnet after neodymium is combined with iron and boron.

Naturally occuring neodymium ore is usually in the form of minerals such as bastnäsite (a rare earth carbonate) or monazite (rare earth phosphate) that are *not* magnetic.

# It gets even worse!

Even if by some force of magic the rare earth ore would protect you from cosmic radiation, you now have two problems:

1. Most rare earth ore also has significant amounts of the radioactive thorium and uranium. You do not want to live in these areas, as any "protection" from cosmic radiation will be more than compensated for by the background radiation of the place you are now living in.
2. These are not nice places to live in. The three operating or recently operating rare earth extraction operations (aka mines) are in the desert. Bayan Obo in China, Mount Weld in Australia, and Mountain Pass in the United States.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: And of course, even in the best possible case, it would only protect you from charged particles. While most of cosmic radiation would be affected, those particles are also readily absorbed by the atmosphere long before they reach the surface - and you're left with secondary radiation, which includes x-rays and neutrons.  
> **username_8**: "Mountain Pass". Wow, that's a non-specific name for a place. I assume it's somewhere near Forest, the centre of the logging industry. ;-)  
> **username_7**: @username_8 Mountain Pass, California, is an [actual place](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_Pass,_California).  
> **username_9**: It seems you have made the case that you actually __will__ be protected from cosmic radiation, since you'll die of something else long before the cosmic radiation can have any ill effects, ;)  
> **username_8**: @username_7 Yes, I was mocking the people who named that place, not suggesting that you'd just said "Oh, some mountain pass in the USA."  
> **username_10**: Actually, places with high levels of natural background radiation tend to be healthier than places with low level.  
> **username_0**: I should have not said Rare. I have updated the question to include all magnetic ore. Thanks to your and the other answers I now know magnetic ore is not the same as rare magnetic ore. I hope this does not inconvenience you and let me know. Thanks  
> **username_0**: @Universal_learner I don't want to discourage any new answer by already accepting an answer. This question was ill formulated by myself to start do to my lack of knowledge about the differences between rare or not. I know now and made a new question, but the answers here are great and I will accept one at the end of the bounty.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-07-31. Score: 11

**No.**

Cosmic radiation are high-energy particles that create particle showers high up in the terrestrial atmosphere. Those particle shower are heavily beamed downwards, and although in principle some secondary shower products feel the local magnetic fields, effectively are not affected by the natural terrestrial field, let alone weaker local fields.

Those showers also create hard photon radiation (X-rays) which contribute to the local background radiation and those wouldn't react to any magnetic field.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-08-01. Score: 2

Although the other answers have correctly pointed out that this isn't a relevant thing on Earth, it should be mentioned that such an effect *does* occur on the Moon: it is the likely cause for the [Lunar swirls](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunar_swirls). These are though to be the result of magnetic anomalies causing local shielding of the surface from solar wind. This effect prevents the regions from proton “sun tan”, i.e. they aren't as dark as the rest of the surface, which is what we can from Earth.

But those particles for which this shielding works on the Moon are already 100% shielded from the Earth surface through Earth's internal dipole field and through its atmosphere.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2019-08-02. Score: 2

The magnetic field stops the charged particles mostly by trapping them along their fields lines (globally parallel to the ground at most latitudes, plunging to the ground near the poles (therefore allowing northern lights).
If you 1up nature and build a massive electromagnet, you could at most create a secondary pole, which would act as particle channel to you, increasing the cosmic radiation you would suffer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: https://earthscience.stackexchange.com/questions/17651/can-living-where-magnets-are-abundant-provide-a-mini-magnetoshere  

---

### Answer by username_5 on 2019-07-31. Score: 2

Magnetite is a type of iron ore and does not significantly affect the Earth's magnetic field. It would not protect you from cosmic radiation. However, cosmic radiation is more intense high in the atmosphere, so airline cabin crew and people living on high mountains are slightly more at risk. If you are worried about how to avoid radiation damage, the thing to watch out for is radon gas. Radon gas is released by the decay of uranium in granite rocks, and varies in different parts of Britain. In some places it can reach dangerous levels which would not be tolerated in a nuclear power station or research establishment. There are indeed maps available on the internet which show levels of radon gas throughout Britain. Cornwall is one of the high radon areas, whereas Herefordshire is a low to moderate area. Radon is invisible, tasteless and odourless, and emits high energy alpha particles (helium nuclei) to become a radioactive isotope of lead. Alpha particles are not very penetrating and can be stopped by a thin sheet of paper, but when inhaled or otherwise ingested can be very dangerous because of their ionising effect. If you live in a high radon area, it is best to keep your house well ventilated.

> **Comments:**
> **username_6**: Well, magnetite does affect the local field enough that it's one of the big reasons why you need to calibrate your compass. That's at surface level and affecting an already very weak magnetic field, though, which is much too late to do anything about high energy particles from outer space.  

---

