[meteorite-list] Dissapointed collector

From: Robert Verish <bolidechaser_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:43:30 2004
Message-ID: <20010709023837.94428.qmail_at_web10404.mail.yahoo.com>

Meanwhile, let's get back to Paul's concerns.

Steve, I think there is something more to Paul's
concerns than just location. Besides, Paul said
"country" and not once mentioned NWA, let alone GPS
locations. So, I think Paul is having problems with
some things that are occuring in the meteorite market
that you and I probably wouldn't think twice about.
We've see them for so long now, we think they're just
natural. But, that's the value of having a fresh view
of things, like the questions we get from new
collectors.

Since NWA meteorites, by virtue of their name, can't
be "misleading" in regards to which "country" it
originated, I'm thinking that Paul must be taking
exception to "other" meteorites from Africa. So, I
took a closer look at those meteorites marketed with a
place name, particularly those from Morocco.

I have to admit to being surprised at the number of
them that are using "place names" that haven't been
approved, yet. Compounding this was the lack of
disclaimers explaining any of this.

I don't consider myself a newbie collector, but like
Paul, I'm starting to question some things, about how
we go about marketing meteorites.

And, Steve, what do you think a hypothetical "dealers
association" would say regarding this type of
practice?

But think about it, up until now, everybody seemed to
be happy with this practice. Can't say I've heard of
any complaints. After all, the dealers are just
giving the collectors what they want, .... a name for
their meteorite specimen.

Bob V.


--- meteorites_at_space.com wrote:
> 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
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Meteorite-list mailing list
> > Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com
> >
>
http://www.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>
>
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Received on Sun 08 Jul 2001 10:38:37 PM PDT