Cutting and etching meteorites

Yes, I have both cut and etched a lot of meteorites.

Here is a pretty good article on it:

www.nuggetshooter.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=7933

Although I would not recommend diamond blades for iron meteorites. They work good for stone meteorites, but not very good on iron ones. I prefer silicon carbide blades for iron meteorites.

Do not cut with chlorinated water. Use distilled water and immerse in denatured alcohol to remove most the water then put under a low heat source such as a lamp to remove the remaining water.

Cutting of iron meteorites is a very slow process. Some people use a light gravity feed since it is such a slow process.

Here is some additional information:

www.meteorite.com/cutting-meteorites/

As far as etching you need to get a mirror finish on the surface first.

There are several etching methods. The most common is with a nitric acid-denatured alcohol mixture. Don't substitute alcohols. I did that once using isopropyl alcohol. It got really hot and starting boiling and fuming quickly. The mix is 5% nitric acid and 95% denatured alcohol. I use a cotton swab to dab and lightly rub the solution on the surface. The pattern will gradual come out. When you are done again rinse with distilled water, put in pure alcohol then dry with a mild heat source.

A few other things to keep in mind:

Not all iron meteorite have etch patters. Ataxites have no pattern.

Some meteorites will show more than one etch pattern. Etching my Toluca showed two different etch patters, including plessitic needles in the same sample.

Some meteorites are very prone to rusting, especially when chlorine is present. So again use distilled water only and use alcohol and a heat source as soon as the cut is finished to reduce risk of rusting.

And finally it is very important to go very slow when cutting. ON larger irons this can be as slow as 1/4" per hour!!!!