[meteorite-list] "Tucson Ring" Scam

From: Walter Branch <waltbranch_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Jun 29 18:15:23 2006
Message-ID: <009701c69bc9$861717f0$6e01a8c0_at_DrCollman>

Hi Geoff,

Excellent information! Thanks very much.

-Walter Branch
-----------------------------------------------------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Notkin" <geoking_at_notkin.net>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Thursday, June 29, 2006 6:09 PM
Subject: [meteorite-list] "Tucson Ring" Scam


> Dear Listees:
>
> This is an alert regarding an alleged piece of the Tucson Ring,
> currently being offered for sale.
>
> Some months ago, I was contacted by a lady here in Tucson, who stated
> that a family member had found an iron meteorite nearby. She emailed me
> a photo, and there was no doubt that it was the real thing. I went to
> take a look in person. She claimed the ~3 kg iron had been found "near
> Ryan Field" but, conveniently, couldn't remember exactly where.
> Although it was clearly a genuine iron meteorite it was, in my opinion,
> almost certainly a Campo del Cielo, and not a particularly nice one at
> that.
>
> I remarked that the specimen had obviously been wire brushed, and it
> was unlikely it had been found in that condition. With my loupe I
> showed her parts of the original patina that remained in some crevices.
> She stated that the iron had never been cleaned, and was just as it had
> been found.
>
> I explained that the only way to do a positive ID would be to take her
> iron to a recognized lab for analysis. The specimen was taken to the
> meteorite department at the University of Arizona. A number of eminent
> academics looked at it, and spent a great deal of time photographing
> it, making a cast, etc., as the owner had given them permission to cut
> it, once a cast had been made. The owner then changed her mind and said
> she would not allow it to be cut. Only the "new owner" could have it
> cut.
>
> Yesterday, she wrote to me again, saying "everyone [at U of A] thinks
> this is a part of the Tucson Ring meteorite." She offered it to me at
> $5,500. I telephoned U of A today and spoke with a friend who is
> directly involved with this matter. I was very clearly told that nobody
> at U of A believes this iron has anything to do with the Tucson Ring.
>
> In my opinion, this is misrepresentation at best, and an outright scam
> at worst. As such I wanted to alert the collecting community in case
> anyone is offered this specimen. It weighs 3,230 grams, and has a
> flattish, tapered "scute" shape, typical of many old Campos. It is
> bright silver (has been heavily wire brushed) and has small pits on the
> surface, again similar to many "old" Campos.
>
> Anyone wishing further details, please feel free to contact me
> off-list. I have not used any real names as this is a public forum.
>
> In this case, buyer beware.
>
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Geoff
> www.aerolite.org
>
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Received on Thu 29 Jun 2006 06:15:25 PM PDT