[meteorite-list] Re Meteorites and Magnets

From: Chris Peterson <clp_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:36:25 -0600
Message-ID: <311279F24F9A448A9B09A229D9777163_at_bellatrix>

Meteorites are (often) attracted to magnets because they (often) contain
highly ferromagnetic materials- mainly iron and nickel. Certainly, iron
meteorites can be made strongly magnetic. I've got small samples that are
magnetic enough to stick to steel plates, just from having a magnet rubbed
against them. I'm sure that if you wanted to heat up an iron meteorite to
its Curie point while in a magnetic field, you'd produce a fine permanent
magnet. Most collectors aren't very interested in doing this experiment,
however <g>.

Stone meteorites don't generally contain enough iron to have enough of a
field to stick to something, but most stones will deflect a compass needle,
demonstrating that they, too, can hold a permanent magnetic field.

Chris

*****************************************
Chris L Peterson
Cloudbait Observatory
http://www.cloudbait.com


----- Original Message -----
From: "Pete Shugar" <pshugar at clearwire.net>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Tuesday, October 20, 2009 10:06 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Re Meteorites and Magnets


>I have done a lot of research and many experiments
> and now I am about ready to write an article, proposing
> a theory as to why meteorites are attracted to a magnet,
> but the meteorite can't be made into a magnet.
> Stay tuned........
> Pete IMCA 1733
Received on Wed 21 Oct 2009 12:36:25 AM PDT