[meteorite-list] Auctioneer Abuse of Meteorites was: Pallasite
From: Michael Farmer <meteoritehunter_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sat Nov 26 11:05:56 2005 Message-ID: <004801c5f2a3$43d068d0$0200a8c0_at_S0031628003> That is one of the best emails I have read in a long time! Butterfields wanted me to put some Lunar and Martian specimens in their auction a couple of years ago, I just laughed when they presented me with the details. Do you also know, that the buyer must arrange shipping, not too handy of an option if you say, live in Russia, and need to call LA to find a shipping company and make arrangements for them not only to ship, but to package as well. It seems like Bonhams is not only greedy, but too lazy to take care of the details. I to get sick of reading these misleading things about other meteorites to promote that one. Esquel has not been hacked up. There are complete slices, the largest pallasite slices in the world already cut and sold of Esquel. I have yet to see one of Fukang, only hacked up partslices. If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. Mike Farmer ----- Original Message ----- From: <MexicoDoug_at_aol.com> To: <Altmann_at_Meteorite-Martin.de>; <steve_arnol60120@yahoo.com> Cc: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com> Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 7:24 AM Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Auctioneer Abuse of Meteorites was: Pallasite Nice Find Martin, it was nice to actually see this new material that is thrilling to some listmemembers:), though there is no real guaranty of authenticity offered. In case someone out there really is motivated to participate, I just would like to express my opinion, that these are more meteorite pimps: Only a bunch of thieves would appear to do this. I guess they think with a cheap British (or Stagecoach) sounding name like "Bonham & Butterfield" they add some mysterious value. There are five more meteorites sharing the company of the sample of the pallasite from the Fukang locality, did you notice? All the others are Nantan Irons!! Let's look at the economics of a sale of lot 8079, the 2.02 kg Nantan: If it sells for the low price of the range, $400: $470 collected from buyer included "premium" $70 retained as buyer's premium by auctioneer $100 commission retained by auctioneer from Seller $150 catalog picture kept by auctioneer $30 online uploaded image kept by auctioneer $6 insurance fee collected by auctioneer NET amount remitted to Seller: $114 TOTAL Kept by Auctioneer: $356 Sounds like purchases on eBay through PayPal just might offer better protection, as evidenced by the Auctioneers statement of responsibility and authenticity: Lots are sold on an *as is* basis but the actual condition of a Lot may not be as good as indicated by its outward appearance. In particular parts may have been replaced or renewed and Lots may not be authentic or of satisfactory quality. Oh, that's nice, and let me guess, even if it is later shown that the meteorite wasn't authentic, the auctioneer will do it's best to hang on to its $356 or a good part of it as it is so costly to hold an auction when use a fancy auctioneer name. Uh huh...into the thieves category they go, for irresponsible. Of course the Seller is responsible in their book not them they'll have nothing to do with responsibility, and for that the seller gets 24.2% of the sale procedes for a meteorite of questionable pedigree. How shameful such abuse still takes place, but I guess "Ye pays ya money and ye takes ya chances." I'd invite anyone to to correct anything I've inadvertantly overlooked. Saludos, Doug PS - and that misleading comment that Esquel somehow isn't as nice because it has been sawed into hundreds of pieces. I am scratching my head on still on that note, as it appears that the lot offered itself is not exactly the main mass either...at less than a kilogram, but they had to add: "The specimen's very large size" as a descriptor En un mensaje con fecha 11/26/2005 6:31:08 AM Mexico Standard Time, Altmann_at_Meteorite-Martin.de escribe: You can buy your slice at a Bonham's auction in L.A. on 4th of Dec. " Help Flash version Copyright ? 2002-2005 Bonhams 1793 Ltd., Images and Text All Rights Reserved Lot No: 8084 Fukang Meteorite Slice - An Important New Discovery Stoney Iron - Pallasite Fukang, China An extraordinary discovery made in 2003, the Fukang Meteorite is arguably the world's preeminent pallasitic meteorite. The present cut and polished slice is the first specimen of this distinguished meteorite to be made available to the public. Displaying much larger olivine crystals than have ever been seen before, the superlative Fukang meteorite is in outstanding condition; its nickel-iron matrix exhibits abundant high quality olivine crystals. The quality of some of the crystals is so fine that they may be classified as peridot crystals, a gem form of olivine. A brief history of Pallasites: In 1749 on a remote wooded ridge of Mount Emir, Siberia, the first pallasite meteorite was discovered. The native Tartars believed the iron was a holy relic that had fallen from the heavens. In 1772, Peter Simon Pallas, the German scientist for whom this category of meteorites was named, visited the site and removed samples of the 700-kilogram mass. Although it would be several years before scientists would accept the theory that stones and irons fall from the heavens, the Pallas iron was eventually recognized as a meteorite and identified as such. The large mass is now on display at the Academy of Sciences Mineral Museum. Over the next 161 years, other much smaller pallasites were discovered and identified. Then, in 1937 at Huckitta, Australia, a pallasite weighing 1,411 kilograms was found; unfortunately, nearly the entire specimen had weathered into iron shale, leaving only 450 kilograms of intact specimen which is currently in Adelaide, Australia. Fourteen years later, in 1951, a 1,500-kilogram pallasite was found in Esquel, Argentina. A private individual maintained ownership until 1992 when it was sold and was subsequently sawed into hundreds of small pieces. The largest intact piece of the specimen is now less than 200 kilograms. Not since 1951 has as large and significant a pallasite been found as the Fukang Meteorite, discovered outside a tiny village in Northwestern China in 2003. The specimen's very large size, superb quality and enormous, high-quality crystals make it a find of historic importance. Measuring 8 1/2 x 8 1/2 x 1/8in. Weighing 910 grams. Estimate: $18,000 to 22,000 http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=EUR&sc reen=lotdetailsNoFlash&iSaleItemNo=2651951&iSaleNo=13327&sServer=http://images 2.bonhams.com/&sPath=2005-10/10/7153424-48-1.jpg Regards. Martin ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Arnold, Chicago!!" <steve_arnol60120_at_yahoo.com> To: <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com> Sent: Saturday, November 26, 2005 12:14 PM Subject: [meteorite-list] FUKANG METEORITE > Hello again list.I got an email from a list member stating that the main > mass of the fukang meteorite is at u of arizona.Man that piece looks like > over 900 kilo's.Does anyone have a close approximate of the TKW?I can > hardly wait to get a piece. > > > steve arnold, chicago > > Steve R.Arnold, Chicago, IL, 60120 > > > Illinois Meteorites,Ltd! > > > website url http://stormbringer60120.tripod.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Saludos, Doug ______________________________________________ Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list Received on Sat 26 Nov 2005 11:05:35 AM PST |
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