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Re: Freebies/Show and tell!

Hello Tom and List,

>   VERY well said Stuart! On the subject of letting kids (or adults for that
>  matter!) hold meteorites, there are plenty of Canyon Diablos, Gibeons, 
>  Odessas,  for example that we really don't need to worry about some natural
>  skin oils damaging a few of them. You just HAVE to let people hold them!
You
>  can't really help it. There are ways of cleaning them anyway right?! 

I concur.  Not hold a meteorite.  What a dumb idea.  If I have the chance to
acquire a specimen that is so rare or valuable that I could not hold it I
would pass it up (and have).  I also give demonstrations to school kids and
imagine if I showed the meteorites "hermetically sealed in a mayonnaise jar,"
so to speak.

Today the postman delivered a small package of meteorites that was insured.
He told me it was one of the smallest insured packages he had ever handled.
When I told him the contents were over 4 billion years old his jaw dropped
half way to his knees and he simply stared at me.  I then retrieved a 7+ lb
Campo del Cielo from the corner of my desk (it's permanent display location)
and HANDED IT TO HIM.  Yes, he (and myself) actually held the iron.  He told
me he thought he would never in his lifetime actually hold a meteorite and
stuck around for a few minutes (much to the chagrin of my neighbors, I'm sure)
asking relevant questions.  He left a very happy man.

By the way, this is a very stable Campo with a fantastic shape.  If this had
been a piece of say, Saratov, I would have taken proper precautions (I'm
enthusiastic, but not stupid).  

-Walter

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