[meteorite-list] On Meteorite Pricing and A Good Outcome

From: Kevin Kichinka <marsrox_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 4 Oct 2007 16:34:55 -0600
Message-ID: <5bb98d570710041534j369d313ejbfde1473a40d0335_at_mail.gmail.com>

Part Two of Two

I am curious how dealers price self-recovered meteorites. Certainly, a
rare species of low TWK with a "story" is max value. But there has
been mention in the past by certain dealers that new specimens were
being priced according to the money spent by that recoverer. Based on
this marketing theory, and all things being equal, Randall's Lima,
Peru close proximity to the fall site versus Mike Farmer's home locale
of Tucson should indicate that Randall's specimens be priced far less
than Mike's.

I wonder now if we should consider that the distance traveled (or the
sum of "gifts" "donated" to the local government) to recover a
specimen has anything whatsoever to do with its value. If so, we
should all hunt meteorites after arriving in-country on self-chartered
private jets after gala nights spent at the casino of our Five Star
Hotel, then arriving on site in limousines.

I will be interested to see how these hunters price their rocks.

And this last comment only represents my opinion and is not directed
at anyone in particular.

Hunting and dealing meteorites is not a "heroic" achievement as some
seem to indicate in their messages to this board. Diving in the water
to save a stranger's life is heroic. Falling on a hand grenade to save
your buddies is heroic.

Having the means to fly anywhere one wants on a whim is a personal
blessing. Surveying the landscapes of countries-not-your-own is
personal adventure. Making a plan and achieving your goal is what we
all aspire to. Taking them time to share this excitement via the
internet with others is noble and a good way to "save your memories."

But buying and selling meteorites is a business, its about the money.
And that's terrific, I fully support capitalism. But let's not award
any "Purple Hearts" for flying Coach.

Much good has already come from this fall. Gonzalo tells me that for
the first time ever, scientists from Peru and Bolivia are working
together with a common goal. I suspect that their knowledge of
meteorites will grow exponentially from the work related to this fall.

And Gonzalo also relates that the "Coleccion de Meteoritos Blaine
Reed" in La Paz is now being shown to standing-room only crowds (OK,
there are no chairs in the museum) as this historic fall is well
documented in local newspapers.
Blaine's quiet gift of "mid-five figure dollar value" meteorites to
the people of Bolivia, not even a tax write-off, is characteristic of
the type of man he is.

Next time your are in La Paz, Bolivia, be sure to visit the museum and
among the Mars and Lunar specimens, take a look at the main mass of
Sevaruyo H5, the meteorite we recovered there in 2001, as we have
returned it back to the country of its origin.

Observations from the coffee fields at Nine Degrees North.

Kevin Kichinka
Received on Thu 04 Oct 2007 06:34:55 PM PDT