I would just like to add one comment to Sally Shelton's excellent advice to
the query on the stabilization of a rusting meteorite in a personal
collection.

If you've been handling the specimen with bare hands?  Stop! The chloride
salts and acids found in human persperation can etch fingerprints into almost
any metal surface.

As a metals conservator, when I find an object without such fingerprint
corrosion it is definitely the exception. Please wear clean white cotton
gloves or vinyl (make sure that there is no gloving powder to get on the
object) when handling your collection.

Cheers!
Dave

David Harvey
Conservator of Metlas & Arms
ColonialWilliamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg,VA 23187-1776  USA
voice:    804-220-7039
e-mail:  [log in to unmask]