[meteorite-list] Australian Iron Meteorite For Sale

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon May 10 13:02:34 2004
Message-ID: <200405101702.KAA12759_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,9503391%255E1702,00.html

Rare space junk for sale
news.com.au (Australia)
May 8, 2004

FOR a cool $100,000 a rare piece of space real estate could be yours.

A meteorite that was discovered in a rural field in northern NSW 25
years ago has been released for sale.

And while numerous science boffins and academics will no doubt be
clamouring to own the valuable space junk, only those with cash, and
considerable amounts of it, will get a look-in.

Not only is the meteorite large in size (it weighs 11.04kg) but its
chemical composition has been confirmed as a "coarse octahedrite"
belonging to a group of iron meteorites `Group IIIF', among the
rarest meteorites known.

Throughout the world only six other Group IIIF meteorites are
officially registered, one of which is the Moonbi meteorite held
in the Australian Museum.

"It's a bit like selling artworks. Meteorites are great collectables
and can be very valuable for scientific or historic reasons," said
Lex Simshauser of Lex E Simshauser Consulting in Brisbane, who are
marketing the sale.

"On the open market, a meteorite of this size and rarity can fetch
tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"It will be really interesting to see who buys it because while a
lot of universities and museums will want it, they are often
strapped for cash."

The meteorite, which is currently held in trust by the Federal
Government, will go on public viewing next month in Brisbane at a
site yet to be determined.

Expressions of interest to buy the meteorite close on June 16.
Received on Mon 10 May 2004 01:02:22 PM PDT