How should I store a meteorite?
Keep meteorites dry, clean and labelled, ideally in individual boxes with silica gel in a stable, low-humidity room, and handle them as little as possible with clean, dry hands or gloves.
Meteorites have survived billions of years in space, but Earth's air is surprisingly hard on them. Moisture and oxygen attack the iron metal that most meteorites contain, causing rust that can stain, crack or even break a specimen apart over time. Good storage is mainly about keeping them dry.
Store each specimen in its own small box or container, padded with acid-free tissue or foam so it cannot rub against others. Add a sachet of silica gel, a drying agent that absorbs moisture, to the container or to a larger airtight box holding several specimens, and replace or recharge it regularly; some types change colour when they are full. Keep the collection in a room with steady temperature and low humidity. Avoid damp cellars, garages, bathrooms and window sills, where condensation and temperature swings are common.
Handle meteorites as little as you can. Skin carries salt and oil, which encourage rust, especially on cut and polished iron surfaces. Use clean, dry hands, or better, nitrile or cotton gloves, and hold specimens over a soft surface. Don't wash meteorites in water, which can start rust within hours.
Labelling matters as much as storage. Each specimen should have a label with its official name, its classification, its mass, and where and when it fell or was found, plus where you got it. Without this information, even a genuine meteorite loses much of its scientific and collecting value. Keep any paperwork safely, and record numbers that link labels to specimens in case they become separated. Display is fine too: a closed cabinet with silica gel works well. Keep displays out of direct sunlight, which can heat specimens and change humidity inside cases. Check your collection every few months for any spots of rust, so problems can be caught early.