[meteorite-list] OT: (Probable) meteorwrong story conclusion

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:23:45 2004
Message-ID: <AF564D2B9D91D411B9FE00508BF1C86901B4E786_at_US-Torrance.mail.saic.com>

Hi Bob, Norbert and List,

I got an interesting message today which I'll share shortly, but first we
must
go back to June of last year when I first noticed a questionable meteorite
show up on eBay. Here's the message I sent to Bob Verish about it:

From: Matson, Robert
Sent: Thursday, June 06, 2002 6:23 PM
To: 'Bob Verish - home'; 'Bob Verish - work'
Subject: "Mohave" meteorwrong?

Hi Bob,

This has just shown up on eBay:

<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2110888286>

Large, 14-lb "Mohave" meteorite. Seller is from Chico, so he probably
means Mojave. The price is absurd, and the seller has no feedback, so
something smells fishy. From the pictures, it might actually be a
meteorite -- it certainly looks better than most meteorwrongs on eBay.
But practically no data is provided other than the mass. --Rob
 
- - - - -

Bob promptly replied:

> Weighs approximately 6272g/14 lbs. And its approximate dimensions
> are 5.75", 4", 3.5"/14.5 cm, 10cm, 13.5"

Hi Rob,

Thanks for the "heads-up".

Is my math wrong, or does this specific gravity look like it is within
the range for most chondritic meteorites?

Check out my version of his images (see attachments)

Bob V.
- - - - - -

Bob later added: "I meant to add on the previous message -
that I think this is another chunk of "Sulfide-rich slag"!
(take a look at the corners where a bright interior is exposed;-)
I wouldn't be surprised in the least, if it is..." --Bob V.

Since the auction is long since over, the links to the images are
gone, *BUT* I just found I do still have Bob's versions of his
images. With Bob's permission, I'll post them to my webspace
and provide the links here if anyone is curious.

A day later, Norbert Classen noticed the auction and posted this
message to the Meteorite Collectors Association list:

Hi there,

Did you see this neat MW from the Mohave desert? Don't forget,
it's "Very Rare! Great Value at $21,280." Okay, some people might
think that $3.40/g is a reasonable price for something that might
be a meteorite AND from the US - but I really doubt that this is
the real thing. What do you think?
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2110888286>

Ebay Item # 2110888286
Best,
Norbert Classen
IMCA #7606

- - - -

I replied to Norbert and the list:

"I noticed this auction yesterday, and being keenly interested in any
meteorite finds from California (misspelling of Mojave notwithstanding),
I floated it by Bob Verish to get his thoughts. It doesn't look like
hematite or magnetite, but then again the seller doesn't mention
magnetism. Bob did some photo enhancement of his images to
get a better look at what appeared to be some specular spots on
the rock surface -- spots which look not unlike some of the roasted
sulfide slags we've been talking about recently.
 
"A rough computation of the specific gravity suggests that the stone
is indeed in the range of most chondrites (high 3's to low 4's) -- the
density is too low to be an iron meteorite. I ~have~ found chondrites
which have weathered exteriors that look a lot like this stone, but
the high price, minimal information, and the lack of a history for
the seller smells bad to me..." --Rob

Leaving no stone unturned (sorry, couldn't resist!), I sent the
following message to the seller:

"Based on the images in your auction, it is difficult to say whether
your stone is meteoritic or not. If you haven't cut into it or
ground down a corner, it is probably premature to call it a meteorite.

"Your auction could use some more detail, particularly given the price
you're asking for it. For example, where was it found; when was it
found; is it magnetic; how do you know it is a meteorite, etc. I
have discovered many meteorites in California, and have an extensive
database of information for all California meteorites, so naturally
I have some interest in your stone -- assuming it turns out to be a
meteorite. Btw, I assume since you're in Chico that you meant Mojave
rather than "Mohave" -- Mojave is in CA; Mohave is in Arizona."

Thanks,
Rob

- - - - -

I got no reply to my message. That is until TODAY! It was short, not
terribly informative, and had a slightly smug tone:

"It was found thirty years ago. I am not an expert on meteors, or spelling,
but I do know that you will never own this one. Have a nice day."

My gut response to reading this message before I'd finished my first
cup o' morning joe was to fire back a nasty reply. But maturity and
better taste prevailed, eventually filtering my vitriol to the
following reply sent a little while ago:


Hi Pete,
 
> It was found thirty years ago. I am not an expert on meteors, or spelling,

> but I do know that you will never own this one. Have a nice day.

Not that it really matters, but I sent you my comment/questions (which
were meant to be *helpful* not discourteous) nearly 9 months ago, so I
was long past expecting a reply (and of course no longer have links to
the specimen images). The question is: why have you bothered to take
the time to respond today? I must say that I appreciate it -- the tone
of your message tells me all I need to know about the provenance
and identity of your specimen. As for never owning it, I think I'll live.
If I'm in desperate need of a common rock, I'll pick one up the next
time I'm in the desert.
 
Kind regards,
Rob

- - - -

So the book is finally closed on this one. I believe Ken Norton is
compiling a lot of information about meteorwrongs on his web site --
in particular, this sulfide-rich slag is something that keeps showing
up again and again on eBay. It would be nice if there was just one
source for this material, but it seems to be geographically dispersed.

Cheers,
Rob
Received on Wed 05 Mar 2003 05:01:05 PM PST