[meteorite-list] Article (with a few errors) on meteorite collecting

From: Darren Garrison <cynapse_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Jul 24 22:48:38 2005
Message-ID: <f2l8e195rbl6jtr72f9nmoqk3tqj46pini_at_4ax.com>

http://auctionbytes.com/cab/abu/y205/m07/abu0147/s06

Collector's Corner: Meteorites
By Zander Kaufman
AuctionBytes.com
July 24, 2005

You were told as a kid that money doesn't grow on trees, but it can fall out of the sky from time to
time. The pastime of collecting meteorite has grown in popularity over the past couple of years due
to several movies and a growing interest in the space sciences.

Today it is easier then ever before to start a meteorite collection of your own. Everyday, earth is
bombarded by thousands of pounds of space junk, most of it being the size of a grain of sand, wich
is what you see as shooting stars on clear nights. But every now and then a piece the size of your
fist or bigger makes its way through the earth's unforgiving atmosphere.

If you don't have the time to go searching through strewn fields (meteor impact locations) for
meteorites, you can find great deals online on auction sites like eBay. Prices range from a dollar
to well over $5,000 for the very rare.

General cataloged meteorites sell for an average price point of a dollar a gram. The price rises or
falls after you factor in the meteorite's historic value and composition. A specimen that was part
of the asteroid that made the meteor crater outside of Winslow, Arizona might bring a higher price
than one of the same size and composition found in another location.

For the first-time collector, I would recommend buying small samples to start your collection. Start
with basic iron and stony iron meteorites. These are the least expensive and easiest to find online.
By doing this you will have a better idea of the market, and you will be able to figure out what
type of meteorite you want to collect.

It is also a must to buy only from sellers with established feedback for selling good quality
meteorites. Meteorites are not easy to fake, and most of the fakes are merely misidentified, so be
on the lookout and do your research.

You might find some sellers who claim they are members of a meteorite collecting organization or
society. This is in no way a badge of honor. Unless they have good feedback for selling real
meteorites as advertised, I would be cautious if you are not a seasoned collector.

Identification
There are some basic ways to identify a true meteorite.

The object is attracted to a magnet--proof of Iron present.


Unless the specimen has been sliced, it should exhibit a thin, dark layer. This is called fusion
crust, caused by the object entering the atmosphere.


If the specimen is a single whole piece, it should exhibit an aerodynamic shape, also caused by the
entry into our atmosphere. This is the same of shape you would get if you where to hold an ice cube
under rushing hot water.


Even with these basic principles, it's still possible to misidentify a sample. Especially with
online auctions where you are unable hold the sample in your hand. I know for a fact that I have
bought misidentified meteorites, which are known as meteor-wrongs.

This is another reason to start out small with your collection. By buying good quality pieces, you
will start to learn the language. Iron, Stony iron, impact glass, and Slag are some terms that might
confuse the new collector. There are books out there that will explain in great detail everything
there is to know about meteors and meteorite collecting. High on that list is O. Richard Norton's
"Rocks from Space." This book is a must. Considered by many, including myself, to be the meteorite
collectors' bible.

Collecting meteorites is a much bigger field then most people realize. The love and enjoyment of
collecting meteorites is almost universal. Even if someone has never seen a meteorite up close or
held one in their hand, it always brings awe and a few wonders. And that is not a bad thing to
collect.
Received on Sun 24 Jul 2005 10:55:08 PM PDT