[meteorite-list] Officials Warn Of Fake Meteorites Being Sold

From: Tom aka James Knudson <knudson911_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:22:42 2004
Message-ID: <001e01c33b38$044bf500$7bd143d8_at_malcolm>

Hello List, I am sorry, I know some of you know this guy.
"Comeaux said that meteorites are identified by polishing down a sample and
looking for reflective nickel-iron specs. He said that magnetite rocks are
commonly mistaken for meteorites. "

I have talked to this guy once before. The above, is exactly what he does
when you show him an expected meteorite! He checks it with a magnet and if
there is a polished surface, he looks for nickel-iron specks and chondrules.
If it does not pass these three tests, he hands it back and says it is not
a meteorite, that's it! If you give this guy a weathered achondrite, lunar
or Martian meteorite he will tell you it is not a meteorite!!!! I wish some
one would show this guy some real meteorites! I think this poor lady needs a
second opinion!


Thanks, Tom
The proudest member of the IMCA 6168
----- Original Message -----
From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>
To: Meteorite Mailing List <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 25, 2003 8:54 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Officials Warn Of Fake Meteorites Being Sold


>
>
> http://www.azdailysun.com/non_sec/nav_includes/story.cfm?storyID=68415
>
> Officials Warn Of Fake Meteorites Being Sold
> Seth Muller
> Arizona Daily Sun
> June 25, 2003
>
> Staff members of the Arizona State University Center for Meteorite Studies
> are warning people about sales of rocks reported as meteorites, which are
> originating from northern Arizona.
>
> Blane Comeaux with the ASU meteorite program said that he received rock
> samples from Patti Harwood of Eureka, Calif., and she asked for the staff
> to verify the rocks as meteorites. Comeaux said that the samples were not
> from space, but instead a terrestrial, non-valuable rock known as
magnetite.
>
> Comeaux reported that a man from New Mexico also purchased $400 in rocks
> he thought to be meteorites, when in fact they were magnetite rocks. He
> said that both people purchased the rocks from a dealer in the Holbrook
area.
>
> In a phone interview, Harwood said she visited a shop in Holbrook in
> September 2001, and she traded $1,200 worth of fossils she had for two
> supposed meteorites. Recently, she purchased a meteorite with certificate
> of authenticity from a man in California for $300, and noticed a
difference
> in appearance.
>
> She decided to send the suspicious rocks to ASU for authentication, and
> received a letter from ASU with the findings.
>
> Authorities in the Holbrook area reported that they did not have any
> investigations going on concerning the sales of fake meteorites.
>
> Comeaux said that meteorites are identified by polishing down a sample and
> looking for reflective nickel-iron specs. He said that magnetite rocks are
> commonly mistaken for meteorites.
>
> The space rocks have become big business. It's not unusual for a person to
> pay upwards of $15,000 for a meteorite. Comeaux recommends potential
buyers
> ask to see a letter or certificate of verification before purchasing one.
>
>
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>
Received on Wed 25 Jun 2003 12:37:04 PM PDT