[meteorite-list] Fun questions, or public FAQs

From: al mitterling <almitt_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 31 Dec 2008 12:25:46 -0500
Message-ID: <8C7C4AE6B10F49EE8DEBCE1312CDF603_at_StarmanPC>

Hi Mark and all,

One thing I didn't realize for a long time was peoples preception of part
slices and small fragments that many of us dealers sort of take for granted.
One lady commented to me one time that she was amazed that they could find
such a small crumb of Mars I had in my micro mounts (it was Zagami). It then
dawned on me that some people see these small micros and think that was the
whole piece found. I explained that it was from a much larger specimen that
was cut and broke down to sell to micro collectors and that it would be
really tough to test such a small piece as it would be mostly consumed and
nothing left for sale.

I have had other people comment on slices saying they sure are flat looking,
not knowing they are looking at a slice being sold from a whole stone. Sure
there are other misconceptions when they are looking but now know to let
them know the small pieces and slices are cut from much larger specimens.
Best!!

--AL Mitterling


----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Crawford" <mark at meteorites.cc>
To: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 5:34 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Fun questions, or public FAQs


>I was reflecting yesterday on the fun I get showing my collection to
>guests, and talking about meteorites to non-hobbyists. It got me thinking
>that there are some standard questions which come up time and again.
>
> * "Where do you get them from?" [One of the few opportunities to use the
> line 'I buy from dealers by the gram' in polite conversation :) ]
>
> * "How do you know they haven't just gone to the local DIY store and
> bought a bag of gravel?" [or various versions of this]
>
> * "How do you know it really comes from Mars/the Moon/the asteroids?"
>
> ...and I suppose if the conversation comes round to it:
>
> * "HOW much???" :)
>
>
> I wondered if other list members had any fun regular (or occasional) ones
> to share?
>
> Mark
Received on Wed 31 Dec 2008 12:25:46 PM PST