[Jewelry making - Article 00179] - Re: [Orchid] Meteorite and rust

[Peter W . Rowe]

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>        Hi all - I have this piece of meteorite that I have had for
>     quite sometime. I am ready to use it in a pendant, but it has
>     rusted a little and I was wondering what the best method for
>     removing the rust is. Is sandpaper ok to use? What do I do after
>     removal? Oil it? Polish it? It has this nice lighter patternon its
>     surface andI don't want to lose it. 

    sanding will leave scratches of course, which you could then buff
    out.  You can, if you wish treat it the same as other metals, and
    polish it or satin finish, or whatever you wish.  If the surface you
    like is the natural original surface, you'll want to be more careful
    to preserve it, of course.   If the pattern you want to preserve is
    the crystaline pattern (and these are often spectacular in meteors),
    then you needen't be careful with it in the preparation of the
    surface.  Go ahead and polish it as you wish, even if it removes
    that crystaline structure.  Then, when you're done, and the metal is
    clean and dry,   make up a mix containing ten percent of concentrated
    reagent grade nitric acid, and 90 percent alcohol.  This is best with
    pure anhydrous analytical grade alcohol, but ordinary denatured will
    work too.  the main thing is not to mix with water. this dilute
    alcohol/acid mix is then used to etch the meteorite, and will quickly
    bring up the crystal pattern again.   Once it's etched sufficiently,
    rinse it in more alcohol (not water), and dry it.  Protect with a
    wax, or oil, or lacquor, etc.  The purpose of avoiding water in the
    etch and rinse is that the iron will be somewhat porous.  If you let
    it get wet at this point, it will quickly rust again.  The alcohol
    based etchant and rinse prevents that, and drys the metal completely. 

Peter


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