[meteorite-list] non-magnetic meteorites?

[Galactic Stone & Ironworks]

Hi David,

Yes, there are meteorites which show no visible attraction to a
magnet.  Such meteorites are in the minority, but they do exist.  Some
examples that come to mind are - some lunars, most martians, and some
metal-poor achondrites like angrites and aubrites.

Since meteorites are heterogeneous, there can be a wide degree of
magnetic variation for one sample to the next, or from one region of a
given sample to the next.  For example, a metal-poor lunar stone may
show no magnetic attraction over 90% of it's surface, but a bleb of
free metal may exist inside the stone and that one spot will show some
attraction.

Best regards,

MikeG

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On 5/24/11, David Gunning <davidgunning at fairpoint.net> wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> It's commonly understood that all meteorites are magnetic to varying
> degrees, or so I've read.  I'm wondering if there are any exceptions to
> that iron clad rule of thumb?
>
> I've a non-magnetic mineral specimen with a black crust and what appear
> to be some sort of orientation striations.
>
> The specific gravity of this specimen is lower than the range of values
> usually associated with most meteorites.
>
> Prolly a meteorwrong, I realize, but causes me to pause and wonder if
> it's within the realm of remote possibility that there are such animals
> as non-magnetic meteorites?
>
> Thanks for your indulgence in helping diminish a wealth of personal
> ignorance in the somewhat occasional arcane field of meteorite
> identification.
>
> All good regards,
>
> David Gunning
>
>
>
>
>
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