[meteorite-list] How to etch meteorites

From: ruben garcia <meteoritemall_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:27:50 2004
Message-ID: <20031117120853.8790.qmail_at_web20808.mail.yahoo.com>

Hi Mark,Rene and list..
I don't necessarily want to get into a debate as to
which is the better etching solution "nitric acid or
ferric chloride". Over that past 5 years I have and
currently use both very successfully, but there are
many variables.
1)Type of meteorite being etched
2)Process in which both are used
3)Long term care of a meteorite after etching.

In my experience I would say that when all things are
considered Nitric acid does a better overall job than
ferric chloride on such meteorites that have a
tendency to be unstable like campo or nantan.
Gibeon is another meteorite that in my opinion looks
better with a deep etch done with nitric, as ferric
chloride somehow looses something on a finer pattern.
However, properly done ferric chloride looks and
usually lasts very well on more stable meteorites with
a larger pattern such as Canyon, Odessa, and Toluca,
Henbury...etc.

As I stated earlier I use both and have for quite a
while, but I think we all agree it can take some
experimentation to get a system that works well on all
etchable iron meteorites.

Iron meteorites are after all... are..well, iron and
iron will eventually rust, regardless of the type of
etchant used, especially if not cared for properly. My
advice is to experiment and see what works for you,
after all that is half the fun. Who knows maybe you'll
discover something new that we could all learn from.

P.S.
 O Richard Norton's book " Rocks from Space" is a
great place for the beginner to learn about nitric
acid etching.

Ruben Garcia
(Mr-Meteorite on ebay)




  
--- mark ford <markf_at_ssl.gb.com> wrote:
> Ruben,
>
> My experience with Ferric Etching is the opposite!,
> I have found Ferric
> Chloride etching to be much better and more stable
> than Nitric!, but
> you need to neutralize it properly in NaOH / or
> Bicarbonate and dry the
> meteorite well with anhydrous alcohol.
>
> The length of time to etch is a little tricky with
> ferric, but
> experience gives you a good guide. And I found it is
> better to etch for
> longer with a weaker solution than quickly with a
> stronger one, this
> gives a more controllable etch!
>
> (A coating of mineral oil is also a must!)
>
> Mark Ford
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ruben garcia [mailto:meteoritemall_at_yahoo.com]
> Sent: 17 November 2003 02:15
> To: meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] How to etch meteorites
>
> Hi Rene and list,
> I just saw the link that was sent to you regarding
> ferric chloride etching. Although the link does
> explain etching with ferric chloride quite well, it
> doesn't go into much detail about the stability of
> that type of etch. There is a place for ferric
> chloride in etching, after all it does give a better
> separation of the pattern as well as a great
> holographic type etch. However after years of
> experimentation with it and nearly every other type
> of
> chemical that will produce an etch I would say
> without
> a shadow of a doubt that Nitric acid and alcohol
> does
> a better overall job. The Nitric solution leaves a
> meteorite more stable ( all things being equal that
> is)as far as rust goes . Of course if you are
> etching
> something as inexpensive as a Campo you may not mind
> a
> little experimenting.
>
> Ruben Garcia ( mr-meteorite on ebay)
>
> __________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!?
> Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
> http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree
>
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
>
http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
> ______________________________________________
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
>
http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list


__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Protect your identity with Yahoo! Mail AddressGuard
http://antispam.yahoo.com/whatsnewfree
Received on Mon 17 Nov 2003 07:08:53 AM PST