[meteorite-list] Arizona fall

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 5 Jul 2009 21:02:25 -0400
Message-ID: <e51421550907051802g7ca41cf5u648198c3986556de_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi List,

I was going to reply in regards to governments "owning" meteorites.
Instead, I decided to post a non-reply.

A victory for thinking before hitting "Send".....! LOL

Best regards and congrats to Jack again!

MikeG









On 7/5/09, Adam Hupe <raremeteorites at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Dear Jeff,
>
> I beg to differ with your opinion.
>
> I talked with several BLM officers and received conflicting assessments.
> This is where I agree with you.
>
> Where I disagree is that the officers entrusted with enforcing the law all
> stated that meteorites could be removed for non-commercial purposes. I was
> told several times that there are no laws on the books that address
> meteorites directly so mineral laws apply. I was told that metal detectors
> and other locating equipment could not be used in areas that also contained
> artifacts. In these areas, they would have to be searched for with the naked
> eye. It sounds that they have considered this issue at length and anybody is
> free to purse meteorites on federal land. There are some areas that are
> well protected such as Ivanpah that do require a use permit. My advice is
> not to take my word for it, check for yourself to avoid any problems.
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
>
> --- On Sun, 7/5/09, Jeff Grossman <jgrossman at usgs.gov> wrote:
>
>> From: Jeff Grossman <jgrossman at usgs.gov>
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Arizona fall
>> To: "Meteorite-list" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Date: Sunday, July 5, 2009, 5:36 PM
>> I am skeptical that this covers
>> meteorites, even if a BLM employee
>> thinks it does.? Very skeptical.
>>
>> jeff
>>
>> Adam Hupe wrote:
>> > Dear List,
>> >
>> > A question came up about who owns meteorites found on
>> federal land.
>> >
>> > Below is a link that can be cut and pasted into a
>> browser that discusses removal of minerals from federal
>> land.? I was told by a BLM officer that 150 pounds can
>> be removed a year for non-commercial/hobby purposes.
>> The BLM will issue free non-commercial use permits if
>> requested. I found that they will even mail them to you
>> free.? If you are caught removing minerals without one,
>> the fines can be as great as $100,000.00 or a year in jail.
>> >
>> > If a meteorite weighs more than 150 pounds, it will
>> have to be cut in the field and the rest recovered during
>> subsequent years or the Smithsonian may claim it. The BLM
>> can and will come after you if profits from any object
>> including meteorites are taken from the sale of minerals
>> from federal land. I was told that eBay is monitored all of
>> time and notes taken.? I made some poor agent spend
>> more than an hour on the phone explaining what is and isn't
>> acceptable to them to avoid future problems.
>> >
>> > The good news is that you can keep the meteorites!
>> >
>> > I think Jack,s approach of keeping the press out of
>> this fall is well thought out. The first thing the press
>> will do is mention there is monetary value in meteorites and
>> then "Gold Fever" will set in. I have seen people do strange
>> things and come up with poorly thought out plans when "Gold
>> Fever" takes hold. People with this affliction are usually
>> the ones that relentlessly chase the press instead of
>> looking for meteorites themselves. They will stab fellow
>> hunters in the back and forget all about long-forged
>> friendships. They are best avoided all-together.
>> >
>> > Here is a link that will explain mineral laws in
>> simple English:
>> >
>> > http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/wo/MINERALS__REALTY__AND_RESOURCE_PROTECTION_/non-energy_minerals.Par.48557.File.dat/sand.pdf
>> >
>> >
>> > By the way, Congratulations Jack, excellent job all
>> around!
>> >
>> >
>> > Best Regards,
>> >
>> > Adam
>> >
>> > ______________________________________________
>> > http://www.meteoritecentral.com
>> > Meteorite-list mailing list
>> > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Jeffrey N. Grossman
>> ???phone: (703) 648-6184
>> US Geological Survey
>> fax:???(703) 648-6383
>> 954 National Center
>> Reston, VA 20192, USA
>>
>>
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>>
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-- 
.........................................................
Michael Gilmer (Louisiana, USA)
Member of the Meteoritical Society.
Member of the Bayou Region Stargazers Network.
Websites - http://www.galactic-stone.com and http://www.glassthrower.com
..........................................................

Received on Sun 05 Jul 2009 09:02:25 PM PDT