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

From: magellon <magellon_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:23:45 2004
Message-ID: <3E668793.D93FC2F_at_earthlink.net>

Robert and List,
I got an email from "pete" also today.
I had asked if his specimen attracted to magnet and did he
guarantee it to be a meteorite...

He email today said "very slightly, and yes."

I don't understand why he bothered writing back .
I replied:
"Thanks for you reply.
This might help you in the future:
http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/meteoriteforsell.html
ken"

Here are his picts of his 'meteorite' that I lightened:
http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/wrongs/petecuneo1.JPG
http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/wrongs/petecuneo2.JPG
Looks like a rock to me......

> believe Ken Norton is compiling a lot of information about meteorwrongs on
his web site ....
As for the info on sulfide slag:
http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/hotrocks.html

> sulfide-rich slag is something that keeps showing up again and again on eBay.
Robert (or anyone) - If you see any on Ebay, please let me know so I can add to
the picture file!

Best,
Ken Newton (BTW - Richard Norton's mother and my mother were mothers, but we
somehow have different names :>)
http://home.earthlink.net/~magellon/mepage.html/
Meteor-Wrong Central


"Matson, Robert" wrote:

> 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
>
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Received on Wed 05 Mar 2003 06:26:12 PM PST