David-
        There is a new faculty member a Mary Washington
(Fredricksburg,VA) in the Biology Department who did her PhD on the
presence magnetite in cells.  I think her name is Karen and her degree
was in microbiology.  More than
that, I can't help.  Happy hunting.
 
Ed,
        The latest landmark work I recall is by Gould, as you are
probably familiar.
        Also, about that BLUE pollen... was it sky blue, navy blue,
teale blue, bimini blue....(you get the idea)?  :)    Actually, the only
report of blue pollen I could find for something  that would be in your
area at this time of year was _Phacelia_.  Check to see what species you
may have in your area.  I don't think there is a common name.
I wonder, however, if what you are seeing is maple pollen.  Are your
maple trees blooming now?  Maple has, what I would describe as, a
greenish gray pollen.  But it could be described as bluish or it may be
blue-er in your neck of the woods.
        In Raleigh, our crabapples are almost bloomed out.  Hollies are
partly gone,  the only maple left are Japanese Red maples, and the
blooms on our Tulip Poplar are about "peanut" size.