[meteorite-list] Re Meteorites and Magnets

[Chris Peterson]

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