[meteorite-list] Valera - cow killer?

From: MacovichCo_at_aol.com <MacovichCo_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:46:25 2004
Message-ID: <92.15425855.28427118_at_aol.com>

Folks-

I'm the person who purchased the main mass of VALERA and who sold some of the material to Mike Cottingham. As such, it seems that it's incumbant on me to address the questions that have been raised about VALERA's provenance.

I have been in direct and indirect contact with several parties who have first-hand knowledge of VALERA's impact. They have detailed the event in a manner that far exceeds what is contained in the affidavit.

What is not stated in the affidavit, as apparently it seemed to be unnecessarily specific (remember, this was an affidavit, not a post-mortem), the cow was struck in the shoulder region, which was badly crushed. Valera was found next to the cow in a meadow. There was no gash. (I asked.) Of the three people who visited the impact site who have reported what had occurred, one of whom was a physician, there is no doubt that the meteorite which was found next to the cow was responsible for the cow's death.

Remember, the meteorite itself had little or no value for the finders. And the near-zero value of the meteorite was not enhanced by the unusual circumstances of the impact. The meteorite was kept as a curiousity...and the cow was dinner. It is us, the commercial meteorite community, who are the only ones that ascribe a value to meteorites impacting unusual targets.

In short, I am utterly (pun intended) convinced that VALERA is indeed the "Bolide Butcher of Venezuela."

I may not be able to respond to this posting until Wednesday.

Wishing everyone a terrific holiday weekend...truly. [Speaking of unusual targets, I was going to attend a wedding this afternoon, but the groom died of a massive heart attack on Friday night. And he was young.]

Be well and ENJOY.

Darryl


 
Received on Sun 27 May 2001 11:02:48 AM PDT