[meteorite-list] The Trials and Tribulations in Dealing with Landowners

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 21 Feb 2011 08:48:33 -0500
Message-ID: <2F030B5B-E991-4B11-888E-AC612DE57F07_at_dof3.com>

Hi Jeff....List....

I don't know....

....it is commercial gain which has been the engine behind so much of the last decade's expanding interest in meteorites which has resulted in hundreds of important new meteorites for science.

While I understand your sensitivity, I don't think a real issue is the postulated object of desire of an imaginary cult group.

Also, a detail. As it regards marketing to the list of high profile bimbettes in the list below---one doesn't really market to them. One gives to them and they then market to the rest of us who choose to pay attention. In a similar vein, I have recently worked to encourage the interest of the black community's interest in meteorites through the music portal. I've met with Russell Simmons regarding the same and hopefully something will soon stick.


All best / darryl




On Feb 21, 2011, at 7:41 AM, Jeff Grossman wrote:

> Why don't we discuss the real issue with this thread? Is nobody else offended by the idea of destroying meteorites for commercial gain?
>
> I do realize that the scientific value of Brenham pallasites is extremely low. Many hundreds of kg are held by museums, so chances are that the destruction by dealers of a few hundred kg more to extract the olivine will not result in irreversible harm to science.
>
> But what if some cult placed a high value on ritually consuming Martian/lunar meteorites or angrites, or CAIs, and the price for powdered meteorites skyrocketed? Would it be ethical to destroy these meteorites for profit? And, are such practices harmful, in the long-run, to both science and the avocation of meteorite collecting?
>
> A large part of the tension between the scientific and collector communities, including the creation of much-reviled export and ownership laws in some countries, arises from the perception that national scientific treasures are being lost. This sort of practice by dealers could make the situation so much worse.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> On 2/21/2011 5:59 AM, JoshuaTreeMuseum wrote:
>> The space gems need to be marketed to high profile fashionistas like Lady GaGa, Kendra, Paris Hilton and the Kardashians. With Kim and Khloe flashing those babies as they hobnob with the crowned heads of Europe, the demand will grow like wildfire. Soon every rock star and Hollywood actor will want one. Justin Beiber will pierce his nose to sport a space jewel! Elton John will have them set in a fancy-dancy pair of specs. Steve will be out of debt in no time.
>>
>> ------------------------
>>
>> Phil Whitmer
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Received on Mon 21 Feb 2011 08:48:33 AM PST