[meteorite-list] A Rock in a Hard Place (Willamette Meteorite)

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:54:07 2004
Message-ID: <AF564D2B9D91D411B9FE00508BF1C8698E5A1E_at_US-Torrance.mail.saic.com>

> BACK IN 1998, the American Museum of Natural History hacked a
> 25-pound chunk and a smaller nub off its famed Willamette Meteorite
> and traded it for a mere 20-ounce piece of Mars.
> That's it. No draft picks. No cash. No "meteorite to be named
> later." Just the 20-ounce Martian pebble. Think about it: Twenty ounces
> of Mars (Mars! It's so close that it's practically the Hamptons!) for
> more than 25 pounds of a rock that may date back to the beginnings of
> time? That's the meteorological equivalent of Nolan Ryan for Jim
> Fregosi.

Obviously Mr. Kuntzman doesn't "get it". If he had done his research,
he'd have found that other than its size and Native American controversy,
the Willamette iron is hardly unique. Willamette is barely an also-ran
when compared to irons like Hoba and Cape York. And what the hell does
he mean by "a rock that may date back to the beginnings of time"??? What
a crock. Most meteorites are as old if not considerably older than
Willamette.

Over a pound of Mars for 25 pounds of iron? AMNH got a screaming deal
IMHO... --R
Received on Wed 20 Feb 2002 08:10:31 PM PST