[meteorite-list] differing viewpoints - scientists, dealers, collectors

From: G. Nicula <treasurehunter_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun Aug 13 20:19:29 2006
Message-ID: <002001c6bf37$39adb630$6401a8c0_at_JOSHUA>

> I am a scientist, not a collector or a dealer, and I see a bit of both
> sides of
> this issue. It is true that many meteorites have been found by
> dealers/hunters
> that would have just sat on the ground otherwise, as scientists do not go
> out
> into the field to search for meteorites (with the exception of
> Antarctica). It
> is also true that in general, a type specimen of each meteorite is
> deposited in
> a repository during classification, making this material available to
> scientists for research. I say "in general", because some of the
> repositories
> are private collections and it is not clear that this material will be
> available to scientists in the future.

Hello Everyone,

Some things in this world are only monetarily valuable while others have
only scientific value. Naturally there are things in this world that have
multiple values, each in the eye of the beholder. Meteorites are clearly
one of those things. To a scientist they are the building blocks to
understanding an origin beyond the scope of all things. To a treasure
hunter they are the elusive big game warranting a lifetime of exploration in
anticipation of that climactic discovery. To the collector they inspire
infinite awe and provocative theory. Not all people that drive a particular
car drive it for the same reason. Some like the way it looks, other the way
it drives, others it's reliability, and others it's practicality.

I am the treasure hunter, with a bit of both scientist and collector in me.
I strive to make the discovery. That's what I live for. I can certainly
appreciate the scientific value of a meteorite. Moreso, I can appreciate
that someone else out there lives to study it. And that yet another person
wishes to possess it in it's simplest form, or otherwise. Personally, I
hate to see meteorites chopped up into tiny pieces, it completely ruins my
appeal to collect one. However, that's what it takes to get a meteorite
into the hands of most collectors and educators. Knowing that, I find
solace. Dealers are the ones who facilitate that process, i've got nothing
against them.

The truth is that we all need each other to function the way we do in order
to maintain a balance. The collector needs the scientist in order to
authenticate the specimen. The scientist needs the hunter in order to
maintain the best possible volume of incoming specimens. And to complete
the circle, the hunter needs the collector in order to maintain his ability
to pursue his treasure. We are each rewarded differently, but we are each
rewarded none-the-less. Like any market, there will be good times and bad
times and not all things will go our way. But that's where the balance
comes from. I hope that in spite of the bad times you all still realize
that your contributions to this field, whether they be science, exploration,
education, or preservation, have been the building blocks to a healthy and
dynamic entity. And for that matter, thank you all.

George Nicula







> So why aren't scientists jumping up and down in happiness. Well, for one
> thing,
> not all of the material that is found will ever be seen by a scientist. A
> lot
> of meteorites are being sold without being classified. I've received more
> than
> one request from a person who bought a meteorite off of e-bay with a
> provisional
> NWA number, who wants their sample classified. As these are whole stones,
> with
> no material missing, it is clear that someone requested a provisional
> number,
> just for the purpose of being able to sell a "named meteorite". Some of
> these
> may not even be meteorites. Additionally, scientists aren't happy about
> the
> current system because some of the dealers/collectors have been known to
> lie
> about important information (such as when and where a sample was
> collected).
> Also, most public repositories (museums and universities) don't have funds
> to
> purchase samples, and so cannot compete with dealers when a fresh fall
> occurs.
> It is important to study fresh falls quickly, before they've experienced
> significant terrestrial weathering. While some dealers/collectors are
> very
> generous about donating substantial amounts of material to an institution
> for
> study, others are very reluctant to give even the minimum 20 grams require
> by
> the Nomenclature Committee. For large-scale breccias (think Portales
> Valley),
> a 20 gram sample gives a very misleading view of the entire meteorite.
> Also,
> as many analytical techniques are destructive; if only 20 grams is
> available to
> scientists (who can't afford to buy samples), then that sample is unlikely
> to be
> thoroughly studied.
>
> Finally, private collections can be lost when the collector dies. I
> recently
> had someone come in with a fist-sized piece of Canyon Diablo that they had
> bought for $3 at a garage sale. It had no information - the people
> selling the
> meteorite weren't even aware that it was a meteorite. It had obviously
> come
> from someone's collection. Also, recently a private collector here in
> Oregon
> died unexpectedly, without leaving a will. He was a bachelor with no
> close
> relatives. One of the dealers from whom he had purchased meteorites was
> aware
> that the man had wanted to leave his collection to a museum. Distant
> relatives
> called me in to help identify samples. The samples had gotten jumbled and
> separated from their labels, I suspect when the relatives were looking
> through
> the samples. The collector had a catalog (without photographs), and we
> were
> able to match most of the samples to the descriptions in the catalog,
> although
> a handful of samples remained unidentified. The collector's relatives
> then
> sold off all of the material. They may or may not have included correct
> information with the samples.
>
> So, I suspect that unless ALL dealers become more generous with the amount
> of
> samples they donate (particularly for falls - to local institutions), they
> will
> find that more and more countries are going to place restrictions on the
> ability
> of dealers/hunters to purchase or collect samples. Unfortunately, it only
> takes
> one or two "bad apples" to give all dealers a bad reputation.
>
> And if you are a collector who values your collection and doesn't want to
> see
> your material broken or sliced up and sold on e-bay, then you should write
> a
> will, directing what should happen to your collection when you die. If
> you
> intend to leave your material to an institution, you should leave a copy
> of
> your will with someone (curator?) at that institution. And you shouldn't
> wait.
> While we would all like to die of old age, accidents happen.
>
>
> Melinda Hutson, curator
> Cascadia Meteorite Laboratory
> Portland State University
> Department of Geology
> 17 Cramer Hall, 1721 SW Broadway
> Portland OR 97207-0751
> Phone: 503-725-3372
> Fax: 503-725-3025
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Received on Sun 13 Aug 2006 08:18:52 PM PDT