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There is no exactly mentioned reord of when was the first compass ever used. According to historical records, compass is believed to be used at the time of Qin Dynasty(221-206 B.C). The earliest compasses were made of lodestones. This mineral is made of iron oxide which orients itself to a north and south axis.In 1117 Zhu Yu's book Pingzhou Table Talks came out. It was the first time in the history of the compass that the device was mentioned as a tool for navigation.

Later in the 8th Century A.D, magnetic needles replaced the loadstones. From the 8th century to 1050's, compass were actively used in ships. Records also prove that Zheng He of Yunnan (1371-1435) used the device during his voyages. Based on the history of the compass, these voyages took place between 1405 to 1433.

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Q: Who invented the compass and when?
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