[meteorite-list] Dissapointed collector

From: meteorites_at_space.com <meteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:43:29 2004
Message-ID: <20010708192749.4625.cpmta_at_c000.snv.cp.net>

Paul,

Your concerns are valid, and are also shared by many scientists at large. However, as a collector of meteorites, or anything for that matter, one must set a direction, a purpose if you will, in making a collection.

The unclassified NWA's are for the most part ordinary chondrites. Due to budget constraints, most researchers of meteorites are moving away from study of these going instead toward the more rare ones.

But this is not to say that the unclassified NWA ordinary chondrites are common, or not scientifically valuable. Meteorites, all meteorites are rare compared to Earth rocks. And those "cheap" NWA's are for now a bargain to the beginning collector. Eventually the supply will dry up, and prices will increase.

But with regards to your concerns about find locations, that is a burning issue right now with sellers, collectors, and researchers.

It is a problem, no doubt. But I would not go so far as to say that the meteorite dealers are the ones to blame. Sure they supply the money to make it profitable for the nomads to find them, but the bottom line is that it is the finder's responsibility to provide the location of the find. For the most part this is not being done in the case of NWA's Maybe the nomads should be given GPS's and their finds numbered by the coordinates rather than by a "NWA" number assigned by the seller, or even after classification. This, in a desert where there are not many landmarks, would serve science well, as pairing could be made.

But if a GPS numbering system were used, then you have to take into consideration that if these meteorites are each given GPS locations the nomads might fear that meteorite dealers and hunters would go to the sites and cut them out (also a valid concern).

The NWA situation is not an easy one to resolve.

But from your standpoint as a disappointed collector, set your priorities as to what you would like to collect. If you like to have scientific information on each of the meteorites you have in mind, then select those meteorites that have been researched.

The field of meteorite collecting is broad and there are many opportunities.

Some may be happy just to have NWA's, others may want only witnessed falls, and some only meteorites with a "pedigree"

As for me, I am now inclined toward building a collection of Lunar, Martian, and the rare achondrites.
And also witnessed falls.

To build what will be a small (and very expensive collection) I will be parting with some historic pieces that I have had and prized for many years.

For beginning collectors as well as established ones, collection interests change, and it is good to be
flexible.

Steve Schoner
http://www.geocities.com/american_meteorite_survey
http://www.geocities.com/meteorite_identification


On Sun, 08 July 2001, "nctools" wrote:

>
> Hello
> I wonder if I could take a few moments of everyones time to get something
> off my chest.Im a very new collector and only started collecting around six
> months ago and am still quite green about much to do with meteorites.Ive
> read as much as i can and am very greatful to some sellers in America and
> here in Britain who have taken me under their wing and guided me in the
> right direction and sometimes even declined a sale if they thought I was
> choosing poorly.But I think I have made a few major errors with some other
> meteorites Ive bought from elsewhere in a rush of blood.I got all wrapped up
> in the excitement of buying quantity instead of quality.
>
> I started buying some of the ordinary chondrite meteorites on sale from the
> deserts and from Morrocco because these were very cheap and looked like a
> good bargain but some weeks ago I found out that they are all not all
> recognised.I tried to find them in the new catalogue of meteorites and
> meteor bulletins but they werent listed.Since then Ive found out that they
> WONT be listed unless I cut a bit off and send it to a scientist for
> classification.Even worse is that the only person who has decided these
> really ARE meteorites is the person who sold it to me!Im quite worried now
> and dont see how this can be fair play.
>
> Being new i assumed that these would be like all the other wonderful
> meteorites on the Matt Morgan,Mike Farmer,Robert Elliot,Robert
> Haag,Meteorite Market and many other great websites and be parts of
> meteorites that the scientists have studied and have in their museums.That
> is very important to me.The unknown desert meteorites are very cheap and
> probably are meteorites but I wanted and expected confirmation of that not
> just stuff that someone only thinks is a meteorite.How can I seriously
> collect meteorites when something is only PROBABLY a meteorite and no more
> than that??I know that its a case of you get what you pay for though I feel
> misled and that ive been taken advantage of as a new collector without much
> experience.Ive been following the discussions on the meteorite list and now
> realise that noone even knows for sure where these are from and might even
> be from a totally different country!Whats going on here??? Isnt there any
> regulation to this kind of dubious trading?
>
> I know they are cheap and give lots of weight for the money but thats
> missing the point of building a respectable meteorite collection of any
> future interest isnt it?I think some desert meteorite sellers should make it
> quite clear in their sales pitch that meteorites like these are DIFFERENT
> from the others and NOT officially recognised as meteorites and noone fully
> knows where they are from.More importantly they should also say that noone
> has actually officially confirmed they are REAL meteorites so new
> collectors dont get misled like I was.Plus if I hadnt actually seen any
> officially recognised meteorites before buying any of these unknown desert
> meteorites I would have been duped into thinking that ALL meteorites were
> just like these old rusted chunks of stone.Why would I think otherwise as a
> novice?
>
> I know the mistake was entirely my own making for being so gullible and
> trusting but what do others think about this?I dont mean to appear hostile
> just dissappointed to find out the truth behind these unknown
> meteorites.Please dont tell me that its acceptable behaviour as they give
> value for money because thats completely missing the point of everything ive
> written above.
>
>
> Regards
> Paul
>
>
>
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Received on Sun 08 Jul 2001 03:27:49 PM PDT