[meteorite-list] Wisconsin vs Tamdakht and other NWA falls

From: Adam Hupe <raremeteorites_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:04:39 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <578498.52800.qm_at_web30703.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

Hi Aziz and List,

Attempting to figure out meteorite pricing is a difficult challenge. The very best you can do is follow trends.

In the case of new falls, hype will increase prices only temporarily then they tend to plunge dramatically. I stopped trying to figure out the hammer stone thing a long time ago. I can not figure out why, New Orleans which penetrated a house top to bottom only sells for between $25.00 to $40.00/gram when there was only a single stone in which very little was released. Claxton which weighs much less than Peekskill and hit a smaller target is currently selling for less than this new fall which is just an ordinary although beautiful chondrite. Completely crusted Pultusk peas only sell for about $40.00/gram at most and offer significant historical value.

Although Moroccan meteorite falls sell for much less, they are none the less rare. I have done much better investing in Moroccan falls than North American falls, neither of which I invest in anymore. I no longer chase falls and haven't for years. These days, I usually pick up a single specimen of each for my collection after the hype has died down. I have lost money on nearly every recent fall I have ever invested in by jumping in too soon. I learned the hard way.

I find it much more enjoyable pursuing cold finds with hopes of nailing down the first North American Lunar. I guess if a fall were to hit here in Nevada, I might chase some of it down but would get out before things turned ugly. A lot of Nevadans love their guns and it is not uncommon at all to run into people in the field wearing them on the the hip, cocked and ready to rock. I hear people shooting off guns in the desert all of the time here in Laughlin, Nevada. Even the local preacher can be found plinking cans out in the desert a few blocks from my house. Luckily everybody I have run into out in the field here has been friendly so far. I think this would change if they ever felt they were being ripped off. I am surpised with all this talk of big money and meteorites, nobody has been shot yet although I have heard of a few close calls.

The dollar cost averaging statement that was recently made makes no sense at all to me. When did meteorites become commodities? Dollar cost averaging down doesn't seem like a sound investment. From a collector's standpoint, I think showing some restraint and waiting is a better move than paying when the hype is maximum. If you think of meteorites as mere commodities, you are missing the real value. Sometimes, things are worth more than just the price tag somebody has arbitrarily attached to them and I am not talking about monetary value.



Best Regards,

Adam
Received on Sat 01 May 2010 01:04:39 AM PDT