[meteorite-list] Adventura del Monte Meteorite (meteorwrong?)

From: Steve Schoner <schoner_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed Jul 12 20:07:44 2006
Message-ID: <20060712.170646.8884.323044_at_webmail65.nyc.untd.com>

-- "MARK BOSTICK" <thebigcollector_at_msn.com> wrote:
Hello Steve,

You noted "You did not state your reasons clearly regarding your
observations of this specimen."

I am not sure if you read what I wrote. I think I gave a very detailed
report on my observations. I said why I thought it was a meteorite and
why
I thought it was not. The buyer and several prospected buyers complimented
me on the report. Now, I did avoid sharing private information such as
names
and the like, to share such would have been against ebay rules.

For a reference:
http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2006-April/183247.html

I also answered a dozen or so e-mails to the list....including several
from
you, and offered to give my phone number to anyone that wanted to discuss
it. Several took me up on that offer, perhaps you should have.

"It sure looks like a meteorite to me, and in fact it looks like Sikhote
Alin. That was my observation of it based on the photos that the seller
provided."

Pehaps your memory is blurred. Your observation was based on the
photographs
that I provided. In person, I thought it looks more like a sculpted
Gibeon,
although my images did make it look like a Sikhote.

I did have a couple problems with it, mainly it streaked like a pencil.
Doesn't your website warn against stones that streak? Most do.

"As for cutting this specimen to make a determination, that is no big
deal."

As I noted multiple times, I tried to convince the seller to let me cut a
sample off and try to etch it. I have access to saws from 6-24 inches,
and
a custom made etching station so that would not have been a problem. I
even
told the buyer and possible buyers I could cut and etch a sample if they
wished, as many did call me on the stone. The buyer did not wish to
stay in
town for me to cut it.

I am not sure were you get off attacking me with this Steve over and over
again as if I did something wrong. I put a lot of time into the stone, it
took a 25-30 e-mails to before I got to see the stone, and freely
shared my
thoughts with the list with no compensation. I let the buyer stay at my
house, and told prospected buyers they could. I have given premission to
the buyer to use my photographs. I am not sure what more I could have done
in this case.

In the future I will simply avoid sharing like information with the list.

I have now changed my mind and I will NOT further report on the
specimen to
the list, future requests on this list will receive a copy and paste of my
last response. The buyer is a list member, if he wishes to share
information he will.

Clear Skies,
Mark Bostick
www.meteoritearticles.com


Mark...

STOP !

I am NOT "attacking" you. I repeat NOT "attacking" you!

(Geez, what is it with this list anyway, where questions raised are
looked at as "attacking?")

I am simply pursuing a question that you raised to this list regarding
a potential "meteorwrong." And as I remember,(my memory is not
"blurred") your description of it was ambiguous at best and left more
questions in my mind than anything else.

With regards to the streak test that most report at their sites, with
fresh iron meteorites, this test is unreliable.

Anyway...

Somebody paid some big bucks for that item, and as a matter of
curiosity, I have wondered about it ever since this item was brought
our attention. Nor have I asked you to reveal anything against "eBay
Rules" in your communications with others, potential buyers or not.

But I have received an e-mail that one IMCA member bought it, and will
pursue my curiosity with him.

It would be interesting to know if this specimen that the seller claims
to be a "unique" meteorite from Mexico, an observed fall: is in fact a
meteorite at all-- unique or not.

Lastly, and finally, I would not have pursued this question if it had
not been brought up on this list.

Steve Schoner AMS
#4470
 
Received on Wed 12 Jul 2006 08:06:32 PM PDT