[meteorite-list] I: Re: Writing on Gebel Kamil iron

From: Galactic Stone & Ironworks <meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Aug 2010 14:28:14 -0400
Message-ID: <AANLkTi=XOdYywNd2d0fBqDn5+ftnz4z69mBegM49Qf=1_at_mail.gmail.com>

Hi Jeff and List,

I have been told that the crater is on Egyptian land, very near the
Sudanese border in a dangerous area that is administered by the
Egyptian military.

As with any material (goods) that are removed from a country,
including Egypt, the materials must be claimed at customs and passed
by the local customs officials. If a dealer has the proper customs
approval forms for their specimens, then they are unquestionably legal
in the accepted sense of the term.

I don't have any Kamil specimens, but one of the people I talked to
privately is recognized as a leading authority on meteorites with
worldwide experience. This person has explained the situation to me
and I take this person's word on it - until I am schooled otherwise.

And FWIW, I don't think Egypt has "public land" in the same sense that
we do here in the US.

Best regards,

MikeG


On 8/1/10, Jeff Grossman <jgrossman at usgs.gov> wrote:
> Just out of curiosity, as I really know little about this... but whose
> land is the crater on? I assume it is government-owned land of some
> type. Wouldn't this make the meteorites the property of the Egyptian
> government? People seem concerned with export law, but is this really
> all we should be concerned about? I would think Egypt's public-lands
> laws would be a primary question here.
>
> Jeff
>
> On 2010-08-01 1:37 PM, Galactic Stone & Ironworks wrote:
>> After talking to some informed sources off-list, I am now of the
>> opinion that the Kamil specimens on the market are legal. What we are
>> seeing here is a rehash of the old science-vs-collectors feud from
>> Nininger's day. (sour grapes)
>>
>> Egypt has strict laws regarding artifacts, but none regarding
>> meteorites. No laws were broken in removing these specimens - unless
>> my sources are wrong, and I don't believe they are.
>>
>>
>> On 8/1/10, Galactic Stone& Ironworks<meteoritemike at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Giancarlo and List,
>>>
>>> What an interesting and unfortunate development. Most meteorite
>>> collectors and dealers were unaware of the situation at Kamil crater.
>>>
>>> For those on the List who cannot read Italian, here is a Google
>>> translated version of the forum discussion -
>>>
>>> http://tinyurl.com/29qqopq
>>>
>>> Does this mean that specimens of Kamil in private hands are illegal?
>>> (i.e. Berduc)
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>>
>>> MikeG
>>>
>>> PS - If these are illegal, then for once, I am glad I didn't receive
>>> any of this iron and don't have any.
>>>
>>>
>>> On 8/1/10, pyram at libero.it<pyram at libero.it> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sorry, I forgot: the forum is essentially in Italian.
>>>>
>>>> Giancarlo
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> ----Messaggio originale----
>>>>> Da: pyram at libero.it
>>>>> Data: 01/08/2010 9.24
>>>>> A:
>>>>> "meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com"<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.
>>>>>
>>>> com>
>>>>
>>>>> Ogg: Re: [meteorite-list] Writing on Gebel Kamil iron
>>>>>
>>>>> Sorry, but I cannot help you.
>>>>>
>>>>> All the meteorites now on the market are illegally collected and sold
>>>>>
>>>> because
>>>>
>>>>> evidently some persons a little time after our expedition give the
>>>>> position
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> of
>>>>
>>>>> the crater and of the meteorites.
>>>>>
>>>>> In fact after our February 2010 mission all the area was declared from
>>>>> the
>>>>> military autorities off limits and no permission are released to
>>>>> anybody.
>>>>>
>>>>> But clearly some persons went illegally in the area without any
>>>>> permission
>>>>>
>>>> and
>>>>
>>>>> they collected many meteorite samples to put its in the market, and
>>>>>
>>>> evidently
>>>>
>>>>> numbered some samples.
>>>>>
>>>>> The true history about what happened is online in the forum of my
>>>>> website:
>>>>>
>>>>> http://www.zerzuraclub.org/index.php?
>>>>> option=com_fireboard&func=view&id=923&catid=4&Itemid=74#923
>>>>>
>>>>> Giancarlo Negro
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Aloha,
>>>>>>
>>>>> A good friend who acquired a Gebel Kamil iron from me recently noticed
>>>>> some
>>>>>
>>>>> writing on it that is visible only in certain viewing angles and
>>>>> lighting.
>>>>>
>>>>> It
>>>>> appears to say SE A8 or SE 48. Does anyone on the list have any
>>>>> knowledge
>>>>> of
>>>>> this writing or what it could mean?
>>>>>
>>>>> http://astroday.net/Images/gebel.jpg
>>>>>
>>>>> Gary Fujihara
>>>>> Big Kahuna Meteorites (IMCA#1693)
>>>>> 105 Puhili Place, Hilo, Hawai'i 96720
>>>>> http://bigkahuna-meteorites.com/
>>>>> http://shop.ebay.com/fujmon/m.html
>>>>> (808) 640-9161<
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________
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>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone& Ironworks Meteorites
>>> http://www.galactic-stone.com
>>> http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>
> --
> 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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-- 
------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites
http://www.galactic-stone.com
http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
------------------------------------------------------------

Received on Sun 01 Aug 2010 02:28:14 PM PDT