Magnetic separation is a physical process that serves to separate two objects (in which one must be ferrous or have magnetic properties and the other must not) through the use of separators such as magnets.

The method consists of bringing a magnet "Magnet (physics)") close to the mixture in order to generate a magnetic field, which attracts the ferrous compound, leaving only the non-ferrous material in the container.

An example is sulfur mixed with iron filings. When bringing a magnet close to a mixture of iron filings and sulfur, the filings are attracted to the magnet, managing to separate the iron from the sulfur. It is a very useful method in terms of separation between solid materials.

This type of process can be used in metal detectors and mineral extraction companies and is called magnetization.