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METEORITE OR METEORWRONG?
magnetic attraction
Meteorites are not magnets - they won't attract paper clips or pins - but most meteorites (chondrites, irons) will attract a magnet because they contain a lot of iron-nickel metal.
Some of the rarest kinds of meteorites, however, are not magnetic (achondrites, lunar meteorites, martian meteorites). Most terrestrial (Earth) rocks are also not magnetic, but some are. Magnetic Earth rocks are those that contain magnetite or some other iron-rich minerals. Natural Earth rocks never contain iron-nickel metal.
A good way to test if a rock is attracted to a magnet is with a circular ceramic magnet like those often used for "refrigerator magnets." Put it on its edge on a flat, hard surface. If a rock is magnetic, you can cause the magnet to roll by pulling the magnet with the rock. Don't use a neodymium magnet. Those things are so strong that they attract many kinds of rocks. A meteorite will respond to a simple refrigerator magnet.
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Bottom Line:If you have a rock that DOES attract a magnet, its probably not a meteorite because magnetite-rich Earth rocks are much more common than meteorites. Cut or break it open. If it has lots of metal flecks or veins like these ordinary chondrites, then it might be a meteorite (but industrial slags sometimes contain metal).If you have a rock that IS NOT magnetic, it could be a meteorite, but the probability is exceedingly small because nonmagnetic Earth rocks are exceedingly more common than any kind of meteorite. |
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