[meteorite-list] Fw: Interesting item on eBay web siteitem#2171794657: Park Forest Meteorite Fragment w/Crust 2.8g

From: magellon <magellon_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:13:09 2004
Message-ID: <3EA84130.EF422E7C_at_earthlink.net>

http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/updates.html (see first item)

Charlie, Steve and List,
Great, I'm glad he stopped the auction!
I agree with Steve, that misidentification is the problem more so than
dishonesty.
This (below) is what I wrote Joe Vergoin after getting an answer similar
to Matteo's:

Joe,
Meteorite identification is not always easy.
Your specimens do not look even similar to PF being sold on ebay.
Park Forest is gray and black and a little rust color - not blue!
Most meteorwrongs are iron ore and are attracted to a magnet.
There are several planetariums (Alder, Field Museum, Planetary Studies
Foundation in the Chicago Area.) that will check your sample for free.
(If you have been reading the local paper you know better than I.)
Also there are collectors nearby who may wish to assist you.
I will try to contact some in your behalf.
You need to ask. "Can a person with honest intentions can commit fraud?"

If you agree , you need to stop your auctions or change wording to
"possible meteorite that has not been verified by expert."
The honest thing is to stop your auction and get verification FIRST!
Joe, I am not complaining, just explaining....
If you still want pictures I can send some but you still need
verification.
Best wishes,
Ken Newton

JOE VERGOIN wrote:
> it was found in a parking lot behind several stores within 1/4 mile
distance
> from the one than crashed through the house. It has been weathered
for
> 10-days which accounts for the rust. If you are an expert then can
you
> e-mail me some pictures. This is highly attracted to a magnet. I
would
> gladly refund anyone who purchased this item if it proved to not be
part of
> the park forest meteorite. I'm not an expert but it looks very similar
to
> other fragments that people have been selling. I'm not an expert it
looks
> like the one's other people have been selling. Dou you anyone near
park
> forest that can verify this.
>
> >From: magellon_at_earthlink.net
> >To: vergoin_at_hotmail.com
> >Subject: Question for seller -- Item #2171794657
> >Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 05:31:09 PDT
> >
> >Hi,
> >The specimen does not appear to be genuine.
> >(Nor did the one you just sold)
> >Do you have verification from an outside source?
> >If so, who?
> >Thanks much,
> >Ken
> >http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/magellon/
> >--------------------
> >
> >
> >Question from: magellon
> >Title of item: Park Forest Meteorite Fragment 2.8 g NICE!
> >Seller: vergoin
> >Starts: Apr-23-03 20:00:54 PDT
> >Ends: Apr-28-03 20:00:54 PDT
> >Price: Starts at $0.01
> >To view the item, go to:
> >http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2171794657
> >
> >
> >

Charlie Devine wrote:

> Ken and list,
>
> The auction was ended because " the item is no longer available for
> sale". Again, as with his auction yesterday, the seller stole Greg
> Hupe's description in his (Hupe's) PF auctions word for word.
> Best,
> Charlie
Received on Thu 24 Apr 2003 03:55:30 PM PDT