[meteorite-list] Australian Iron Meteorite For Sale

From: MarkF <mafer_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon May 10 16:56:54 2004
Message-ID: <002801c436d1$50c29250$545320cc_at_yourkgohy9au97>

Hi Ken and List

It appears that the ozzy gov wants to retain its control of the item, yet allow study to occur. Funny thing about cultural heritage items, they can go all over the world on loan...some never return I hear....but technically, they belong to some organization representing that gov. My guess is that ozland universities haven't any cash and are looking for some rich type to step in, purchase it and donate it to one of the universities. So, the gov, is helping accomplish that.
Which also means, samples might appear on our market after trades are made.

Mark
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: ken newton
  To: Meteorite Mailing List
  Sent: Monday, May 10, 2004 1:29 PM
  Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Australian Iron Meteorite For Sale


  A small tidbit not mentioned:
  "The federal Government has classified the meteorite as a piece of cultural heritage and banned its export."
  http://news.com.au/common/story_page/0%2C4057%2C9518424%255E13762%2C00.html

  That is confusing. Anyone can buy it but they cannot leave Australia with it?
  Best,
  ken
  #9632

  Ron Baalke wrote:

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.
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