[meteorite-list] iron meteorite natural color

[Marcin Cimała - POLANDMET]

> Hello,
> I have a question.
> As we know an iron meteorite, such like Campo del Cielo for example, have 
> a black surface.
> I have here a deeply rusted Campo, I'm planning to remove rust with a sand 
> blasting process.
> But with this I will obtain a greysh surface, like naked iron, the same 
> color of a slice.
> Not really a natural color for the exterior of an iron meteorite and also 
> not aestetically pretty, looks too artificial for me.
> There is something to do for restore the original black color?
> Or it's better to remove the rust with a traditional steel brush, maybe 
> with a drill ???
>
> Tips for mechanical or chemical process are welkomme!!!
> I can try with the classical NaOh bath, I have also Phosphoric, Citric and 
> Oxalic acid :)
>
> Thanks
> <x>x<x>x<x>
> Francesco

Hah good question Francesco. But what is natural color of meteorite at all ? 
Desert sandblasted NWA is not a real looking meteorite? Should I paint them 
black to be looking like a real meteorites ? Poor Dhofars....
This is what Im fighting long time. Strange stereotype that meteorite MUST 
BE BLACK outside, WHY ?

When You like Your girlfrend ? When he smile to You with his pretty face or 
when she put ton of Max Factor chemicals on it??

I have always strange taste, different than most of collectors. For me, if 
specimen have crust must be black or black with rusty patina. If meteorite 
have no more crust like Campo, why to "paint" it to black to looks like 
Sikhote ? Then You will see paint, not Your meteorite. I only can imagine 
what strange things they do to clean Campo and look it like that. LOL

OK now a few tips.
As I understand Your Campo is a complete specimen ? To remove deep rust You 
must use electrochemical cleaning + brush + small hammer. Then You will get 
mostly cleaned meteorite with BLACK remains of rust that will make Your 
meteorite looks REAL.Then heat it and put alot of oil to make it looks fresh 
and oriented :)

-----[ MARCIN CIMALA ]----[ +48 793567667 ]-----
http://www.Meteoryty.pl             marcin(at)meteoryty.pl
http://www.PolandMET.com       marcin(at)polandmet.com
--------[ Member of Polish Meteoritical Society ]--------