I read another article which asked strongly that people NOT use rare earth, neodimium or other strong magnets on meteorites, so this should perhaps be emphasized more strongly.
>>You say that your rock attracts a magnet or a compass. Most (>95%) of meteorites (irons and ordinary chondrites) attract cheap magnets because they contain iron-nickel metal. Many terrestrial rocks, however, contain the mineral magnetite, which also attracts a cheap magnet. (Do not use a rare-earth magnet; a cheap “refrigerator magnet” will attract a meteorite.)
The reason is that the strong magnets can re-orient the magnetic properties of the meteorite, ruining it for some aspects of tests or research. Seems polite to not ruin the thing for research for only a few seconds of 'that's cool' sensation.
>>You say that your rock attracts a magnet or a compass. Most (>95%) of meteorites (irons and ordinary chondrites) attract cheap magnets because they contain iron-nickel metal. Many terrestrial rocks, however, contain the mineral magnetite, which also attracts a cheap magnet. (Do not use a rare-earth magnet; a cheap “refrigerator magnet” will attract a meteorite.)
The reason is that the strong magnets can re-orient the magnetic properties of the meteorite, ruining it for some aspects of tests or research. Seems polite to not ruin the thing for research for only a few seconds of 'that's cool' sensation.